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Victorian I andcareandcare LL & CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT
News on the Victorian Landcare Forum The fate of the barking owl Charlton farmers fight salinity Unlock the wealth in your soil
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For Hi Fert dealer locations, freecall 1800 884 488 or visit the website at www.hifert.com.au HF 8600 Editorial contributions Carrie Tiffany, Tiffany and Associates CONTENTS 1 Lane Street, Blackburn North 3130 CONTENTS Phone 9894 2169 Fax 9894 2515 E-mail: [email protected]
Mailing list enquiries Charlton farmers Meet the Kaniva Brenan Wotherspoon, Victorian Farmers fight salinity Landcare Group Federation, Phone 9207 5527 Fax 9207 5500 8-9 14-15 E-mail: [email protected] Advertising Paul Crock Phone 0418 377 264 Fax 9428 4676 Weed control Fox control update from the air Cover photograph: 20-21 22 Tess plants a tree. By Carrie Tiffany. Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management is published for the Victorian Landcare community by the Victorian Farmers Federation in partnership with the Department While every effort has been made to of Sustainability and Environment, Alcoa World Alumina Australia, the Victorian ensure the accuracy of statements in Catchment Management Council and the Natural Heritage Trust. Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Magazine the Victorian Farmers Federation, its partners, agents, servants, and contractors disclaim all responsibility for the statements quoted herein. From the editors
We hope you enjoy our first issue for 2004. Wimmera wetlands celebration This year promises to be an important The Landcare year got off to a good start one for the future of Landcare across the in the Wimmera with around 300 people State. We urge you to get involved in the braving a very hot day to celebrate World Victorian Landcare Forum which will be Wetlands Day in early February. running during the first half of the year. The Wimmera CMA ferried people from The forum will provide an opportunity Stawell, Dimboola, Nhill, Kaniva and for members of the Landcare community Horsham to the region’s west to explore to have their say about the future the Wimmera’s wetland hot spots. development of Landcare. See the The tour visited Lakes Ratzcastle and story opposite for further information. Charlegrark, west of Edenhope, and Farewell, Mike Gooey Lake Wallace in the heart of Edenhope. One of our editors, Mike Gooey, has Local schoolchildren mingled with moved on from his position at DSE ecologists, hydrogeologists, ornithologists Native plants and his role with the magazine to take and Landcarers. This was the fourth time up a new position at DPI. the Wimmera community has celebrated the region’s wetlands with participation on the net We thank Mike for his hard work and doubling since the first tour to Ramsar- commitment over several years and wish listed Lake Albacutya in 2000. Finding valuable information on plants him well with his new responsibilities. Organiser Brooke Turner said that in the Murray-Darling Basin took a major Joanne Webber from DSE will be taking there are more than 3000 wetlands in leap forward last month with the launch over the editorial role from Mike. Joanne the Wimmera which account for about of a virtual herbarium on the Internet. certainly doesn’t need breaking in as she 25 per cent of the wetlands in Victoria. The virtual herbarium, which is found at has been involved in behind-the-scenes http://www.csu.edu.au/herbarium/ allows work on the magazine for some time. Send us your stories Internet users to see specimens and read Many of you will remember her for the We are always interested in hearing relevant information about native plants sterling job she did organising the from our readers. If you have a story, and weeds in a free, easy-to-use database. Victorian Landcare Awards last year. a letter, a comment or a suggestion The site was developed by herbarium Welcome, Joanne. please don’t hesitate to get in touch. staff at Charles Sturt University’s Thurgoona Campus. Mathew Guy, Carrie Tiffany and Grades five and six students from Goroke Joanne Webber CSU Herbarium Officer Kylie Kent present the history of Lake Charlegrark says the virtual herbarium is an exciting during World Wetlands Day celebrations in the Wimmera. development that provides a wealth of free information to the general public. “The virtual herbarium will help farmers and other land managers to identify plant species and to learn more about native plants and weeds in the region.” The herbarium database houses information for over 3400 specimens, with over 2000 high-quality images of plant specimens. Handy information on the distribution, ecology and propagation of many species can also be accessed online. Victorian Landcare Forum –
By Mark Costello 3-4 June 2004
From its starting point in the mid 1980s, The forum does not have a ‘position’ 2. Community members, support staff and when farmers got together to tackle or pre-determined outcome; rather, policymakers will meet 3-4 June 2004 rabbits, weeds and production issues, local it invites those active in Landcare to in Bendigo to discuss the future roles Landcare groups have been a focal point reach their own position and provide of community Landcare, develop for community thinking and action. recommendations for future arrangements. recommendations and to decide who is responsible to ensure the Landcare groups have planned and The forum will provide a space for an recommendations are addressed. organised on-ground work, influenced honest assessment of what Landcare has local practices, been a voice for become and what it might be in the 3. The Forum reconvenes 16 July 2004 community opinion and created a place future. It leaves the scope of Landcare’s with agencies and decision-makers for people to meet and talk about issues role open. invited to discuss the proposed roles, that affect their livelihood and recommendations and responsibilities The forum has three phases: communities. for action. 1. Through April and May, people This year a Landcare Forum is being To register your early interest planning to attend the forum will organised so that local community groups please email your details to talk within their community Landcare can draw their thoughts about the role of [email protected] groups and networks about the community Landcare together and strongly For further information visit forum’s focus questions. influence the future direction of Landcare. www.landcare.net.au or contact Mark Costello, Statewide Landcare Facilitator, on 5430 4526.
Landcare going to the US?
Landcare could be Australia’s next overseas export following a visit from Jim Mosely, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture. Deputy Secretary Mosely had been impressed with reports about Landcare from previous US delegations to Australia and wanted to see it for himself. A whirlwind tour in February took in the Grow West Project at Bacchus Marsh and the Woady Yaloak Catchment Group near Linton. After the tour Jim Mosely said the secret of Landcare’s success seemed to stem from it being a people’s movement, rather than a Government-driven program. He was interested in the diversity and flexibility of Landcare and noted that there are many different models reflecting the needs of individual communities. Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, When asked whether he thought that Landcare would emerge Jim Mosely, discusses Landcare with Grow West Project in the US, he was very positive and said, “Absolutely”. Co-ordinator, Carmen Zerafa.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 5 Amendments to the Catchment and Land Protection Act
Catchment Management
The Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CaLP Act) provides the legislative framework for the management of land in Victoria, including the control of declared pests, noxious weeds and pest animals. Last year the Victorian Parliament passed amendments that will strengthen the CaLP Act through tighter administrative processes and enforcement powers.
What changes have been made? The major changes are: • Maximum penalties have been increased, to reflect the costs of remedial action and act as a greater deterrent Powers The role of Catchment Management against intentional and inadvertent poor Officers land management activities; The powers of the Act have been revised to improve the administration of the DSE is responsible for administering the • Powers within the Act have been Act, by providing: Act and employs Catchment Management improved and the administrative Officers (CMOs) through DPI to enforce • Power to enter commercial premises, processes simplified to ensure effective the provisions of the Act. CMOs are to monitor the trade and possession and efficient management of responsible for providing advice and of pest animals and noxious weeds; infringements; and assistance to land managers as well as: • Power to enter land and premises • New penalties have been introduced • Undertaking inspections for noxious for noxious weed and pest animal to reflect a need for more stringent weeds and established pest animals inspections; controls on certain activities. (rabbits, foxes, wild dogs, feral pigs and • Power to seize noxious weeds and pest goats) on land throughout Victoria. Penalties animals that are possessed illegally or • Undertaking investigations into the The penalty provisions throughout the being offered for sale; trade and possession of pest animals Act have been revised and increased to: • The collection of DNA samples of pest and noxious weeds. • Provide a greater deterrent for animals and noxious weeds for analysis; • The power to enter and search land, landowners failing to meet their and which includes buildings, shops, obligations under the Act. • Power to require a person to retain pest nurseries and other commercial • Make them commensurate with the animals by service of a notice to that premises to ensure the provisions cost of noxious weed and pest animal person. of the Act are being complied with. control (rabbits and foxes). • Deter the trade, possession and The amendments to the CaLP Act came into effect on 5 January 2004. movement of illegal exotic pest For further information call the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186. animals, monkeys, large cats and Copies of the Act can be downloaded from: www.dms.dpc.vic.gov.au reptiles, in Victoria.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 6 Clunes group cleans up Group at Queen’s Park News
John Sayers from the Clunes Landcare Group poses in front of the new fence around Queen’s Park.
Clunes, north of Ballarat, is the site of Calambeen Park and using, where According to Pamela Manning the project the first reported find of gold in Victoria. possible, participants from the has lifted the profile of the Landcare The Clunes Landcare Group is an urban- Clunes/Creswick area. group within the town. based Landcare group formed to clean up Trevor Godfrey from Ballarat Regional “The Queen’s Park project demonstrates Creswick Creek which flows through the Industries supervised the project which how Landcare groups can achieve a lot centre of the town. involved working with ten participants in areas which are not generally seen When Pamela Manning started work every second week. The works involved as having a Landcare focus. The group with the group as the new Landcare re-establishing the walking path through also took advantage of a labour Co-ordinator the group’s highest priorities the centre of the park, re-establishing the initiative which helped them to tackle were poplar control and clearing work picket fence around the boundary and a project which otherwise would have along the creek. installing seating along the top of the been too big.” creek line to give a pleasant view down Concern for the creek also spread to Clunes resident and Landcare Group into the creek. nearby Queen’s Park which has a very member John Sayers, who shaped all of high heritage significance within the The project has run for six months. the pickets for the new fence, said that township. The group put a project outline As well as the crew of workers the the project had really pulled the together to rehabilitate the park and community is involved in shaping town together. applied to Ballarat Regional Industries the pickets for the fence and regular “We are looking forward to the next for it to be considered as a Work for the morning and afternoon tea visits to project to finish the park,” John Sayers Dole project. show appreciation for the work being concluded. done. With the project completed the The project was approved to work community will now paint the sealer on alongside a project running in Creswick’s the fence over a series of working bees.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 7 From salt scald
Longeranong College students to picture helped out with tree planting.
It gives fifth-generation Charlton farmers “Within two years we could start to see a established and addressing the recharge Dennis and Glenda Watts a lot of pleasure difference in the health of the area. We problem, we could still continue to crash to look around a valley that they have were anxious to see if the salt would re- graze it periodically,” he said. transformed from a degraded paddock emerge during the wet years in the late Glenda and Dennis attribute much of scarred by salt to a productive and 1990s, but the saltbush did its job and the transformation of their paddock to picturesque landscape. we’ve seen no sign of it,” Dennis said. planning, funding and labour assistance The Watts’ mixed farm is about 20 “This was a good shot in the arm for from the Buloke Biolink and DPI. The kilometres south of Charlton. It is within us because it showed us that we could North Central Dryland Salinity Program the Pental Hills targeted project area, one actually do something effective about is supported by the North Central of the North Central Dryland Salinity the problem.” Catchment Management Authority and Program’s 10 priority areas in the north is funded by the National Action Plan At this stage the bottom of the valley central region. for Salinity and Water Quality, a joint had totally recovered and the saltbush State-Commonwealth program. The rehabilitation work that was started had both lucerne and ryegrass through in the early 1970s by Dennis’ father and it which provided valuable grazing for “We just couldn’t have done it by uncles has now been completed. Dennis sheep twice a year. ourselves, it’s just too big a job both Watts said working with Charlton DPI financially and physically, despite our The next step in the rehabilitation process Project Manager Aaron Watts has enabled best intentions. If we had had to do it was to establish a farm forestry plantation them to complete a comprehensive ourselves, it would have taken years of 6500 trees to reduce recharge to the paddock plan for the affected area. of doing one little patch at a time. groundwater system. The plan addressed the cause of salinity in “Now we know we’re heading in the right The plantation, comprising Sheoak, the paddock and reduced runoff by using direction – the salt and erosion are under Ironbark, Weeping Mile and Lightwood, water where it falls. This has helped stop control and we’re seeing a lot more birds is growing well and will provide a valuable recharge to the groundwater and improved than we did five years ago,” Dennis said. resource of craft wood and furniture the water quality. timber in about 20 years. Student teams help with planting Dennis said his father, Lloyd, and his uncles took the first step to recovery for Repairing the hills Buloke Biolink Co-ordinator Rob O’Shannessy co-opted his fellow the paddock in the early 1970s through Last year, with assistance from the North Conservation and Land Management the Soil Conservation Authority. The Central Dryland Salinity Program students from Longeranong College near men worked to fill in several large eroded (implemented by DPI), Glenda and gullies and established diversion banks Dennis turned their attention to and waterways. Dennis and Glenda Watts are continuing revegetating the ridges surrounding work that began in the 1970s to recover the valley. land lost to salinity. Success with saltbush “We’ve had our eye on these hills for a Despite this work, large salt scalds later while as they are recharge areas that were formed in the paddock. The scalds having a detrimental impact on other stretched from the side of the valley down areas of the farm,” Dennis said. to a dam in the middle of the paddock. This was tackled by planting 4000 “We chose to plant indigenous trees saltbush on the scalds in the early 1990s, because the areas were too rocky to be which quickly had an impact. cultivated, but after the trees were
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 8 postcard By Jill Karena
Deep-rooted saltbush thrives on an old salt scald providing sheep feed and helping lower watertables.
Horsham to help Dennis and Glenda Although it was labour intensive, Rob said and Glenda who are doing their best with their planting. The original team the results proved how beneficial good to get trees and birds back into the of students put 3000 local provenance preparation was. Last year’s trees were landscape with the understanding native seedlings in the ground and they watered three times, with 99% of them that they are tackling salinity, saving repeated the effort last year. coming through the summer and taking the topsoil and establishing wind off well this year. protection for their farming activities,” Tree planting lines around the hills explained Rob O’Shannessy. were ripped by a bulldozer to ensure the “Those of us who returned to plant last young trees had the best possible start. year were amazed at the growth and pretty For further information contact DPI Dennis and Glenda walked over the pleased to have been part of such a Project Manager Aaron Watts on entire 32 kilometres of rip lines with successful project. It’s great that there are 5491 1566. a handheld rotary hoe. increasing numbers of people like Dennis
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 9 Weed Update
By Kate Blood
An active eradication program has been underway involving a number of groups including the Falls Creek Resort Management Board, Parks Victoria, The distinctive flowers of Falls Creek Ski Lifts, DPI and DSE. Orange Hawkweed, a State Prohibited Noxious Weed. Schuss Ski Club and other groups and businesses have been actively involved in reporting infestations as they are found New hawkweed for Victoria rainfall areas of the South Island high and local contractor Jill Dawson has been country. successfully treating infestations with A new hawkweed was discovered near herbicide. Falls Creek in the Alpine National Park King Devil Hawkweed has serious weed last December. potential in Australia and, as such, all This perennial herb grows to 40 species of Hieracium are prohibited for centimetres tall when flowering and like The new herb, King Devil Hawkweed entry to Australia by the Australian the King Devil Hawkweed spreads by seed (Hieracium praealtum ssp. bauhinii), is Quarantine and Inspection Service and runners. Orange Hawkweed has closely related to Orange Hawkweed (AQIS). All species are now State clusters of orange flowers at the top of the (Hieracium aurantiacum) which is already Prohibited Noxious Weeds in Victoria. flowering stem and is quite distinctive in under an active eradication campaign in the field. and around Falls Creek. Orange Hawkweed work continues The new King Devil Hawkweed in King Devil Hawkweed is a perennial herb Orange Hawkweed has been established contrast looks superficially like many that has stems to over 70 centimetres tall in and around the Falls Creek village other weeds and indigenous plants in when flowering. Each flowering stem can since January 1999. the high country so is more difficult have 5 to 25 yellow daisy-like flowers. The plant spreads by seed and by A new weed, King Devil Hawkweed, has been discovered near Falls Creek covering about 0.8 hectares. strawberry-like runners. The new hawkweed was discovered by DSE officer Rudi Pleschutschnig from Mt Beauty. Rudi and local Parks Victoria staff have been conducting further surveillance for the new weed and undertaking work to treat the weed with herbicide. The King Devil Hawkweed is a new weed for Victoria and probably Australia. It is already a significant problem in New Zealand, the USA and Canada. It originates from central Europe. Introduced Hieracium praealtum along with Hieracium pilosella in New Zealand are among the most abundant tussock grassland species in the moderate to low
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 10 The flowers of the new weed, King Devil Hawkweed, near Falls Creek.
Alpine Ecology Course participants learn about Orange Hawkweed at Falls Creek.
to recognise in the field. in Victoria and is a serious weed in New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Britain and Orange Hawkweed is prohibited entry to parts of Europe. Australia by AQIS and is on the National Environmental Alert List of Weeds – a It has also been recorded in Tasmania and national list of 28 plants that are in the an infestation was found in the Jagungal Flower heads of King Devil Hawkweed are bottled for quarantine incineration before early stages of establishment and have the Wilderness of Kosciuszko National Park in plants are sprayed. potential to become a significant threat to December 2003. It originates from Europe biodiversity if they are not managed. It is and is a common lawn and garden weed also a State Prohibited Noxious Weed in in the UK. Plants have recently been Victoria. removed from the Ballarat Botanic Gardens. At Falls Creek, Orange Hawkweed escaped from a garden within the village. Nursery surveys It has been found in nurseries and markets Retail and wholesale nurseries have been inspected by DPI staff across much of A close-up of the spore cone of a horsetail plant found on sale in Victoria. Victoria looking for declared noxious weeds, particularly the State Prohibited Noxious Weeds declared in 2003.
The most common weeds found for sale Orange Hawkweed growing among other are species of Equisetum or Horsetail. All weeds at Falls Creek. plants are removed and destroyed under strict hygiene and quarantine conditions to ensure they do not spread. Information is shared with interstate colleagues about illegal trading. The National Herbarium of Victoria in Melbourne continues to play an important role in the identification of potential, new and emerging weeds. For further information contact Kate Blood, Project Leader, Weed Alert Rapid Response, DPI Beaufort on 5349 2833 or One of the species of horsetail, a State [email protected] Prohibited Noxious Weed in Victoria.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 11 Drought and fires threaten
The incessant trilling of baby barking owls tells us that we are close to the nest. “These are my ‘bombproof’ owls, the ones least disturbed by human presence,” says Natasha Schedvin as we make our way quietly through a forest of black cypress pine and red and long leaf box trees. Natasha is a doctoral student at Charles Sturt University’s School of Environmental and Information Sciences in NSW and a member of the Johnstone Centre for Research in Natural Resources and Society. For the past three years she has been researching barking owls, an endangered species in Victoria. Over that time, she has tracked 13 owls for 130 nights in and around Chiltern-Pilot National Park in north-east Victoria. Up until last year’s bushfires this area had one of the densest populations in south-east Australia. This particular breeding pair we are watching live in the Woolshed Valley and is the most successful of the 23 pairs Natasha has studied. Over the past four years they have raised three chicks (the maximum number for barking owls) annually. A male owl, large and unperturbed, is perched on a low branch. As we approach he just bothers to open his distinctive yellow eyes. Later, the female swoops from tree to tree, issuing a warning call that explains why these owls have earned the name the ‘screaming woman’ owl. The female owl is the smaller of the two, weighing around 600 grams, compared to the male’s 800 grams. There are three chicks in this nest in the hollow of a dead tree but only two make an appearance. Fortunately the pair’s nesting tree (and the pair) was spared in the fires which burnt much of the owls’ natural habitat and destroyed six of the nest sites Natasha had been observing. the barking owl By Margrit Beemster
“The situation last breeding season was very, very poor,” says Natasha. . “My population of 23 pairs is now down to nine, and of those pairs, only two Border Mail successfully produced young. We don’t have owls nesting in the burnt areas any more.” One of the reasons the bushfires were so devastating is that owls are very territorial and don’t move to new locations easily. Breeding pairs seem to stay and defend their patch at all cost. “With the coincidence of drought and the fires they’ve been dealt a double whammy,” says Natasha. Pictures courtesy of Alex Massey at the “As any landholder knows the impact Baby barking owls in their nest. of a drought is felt for some time after it finishes. I would expect the combination of the two has resulted in a lack of The southern sub-species of barking owl Barking owls use large old trees as nesting abundant food sources required when was once widespread across the east coast hollows (as does most of the wildlife they owls are breeding. It’s been very sad.” of Australia and the south-west corner of prey on) which in many areas are a One of the key contributing factors Western Australia. It is a woodland bird limited resource. to the previously abundant barking owl found in the foothills of the Australian “We don’t know much about our large population is the large connected blocks Alps and in the River Red Gum forests forest owls. In fact we don’t know much of box-ironbark woodland present in along the Murray. about our owls full-stop,” says Natasha. Chiltern-Pilot National Park and its “They seem to be declining but we don’t surrounds. Hopefully her research work will help fill know why yet. The northern sub-species in some of those gaps in our knowledge. “It’s one of the forest types we’ve lost a is doing quite well, but it’s a different case lot of in Australia,” says Natasha whose down south,” says Natasha. Natasha has spoken to and worked with research is looking at the owls’ habitat members of various Landcare groups in Owls are at the top of the food chain requirements with a view to further refining the region in the Wooragee, Indigo Valley, and eat lots of creatures like bats, possums conservation management practices. Chiltern, and Springhurst/Byawatha areas. and parrots and even other endangered She is known as ‘the barking owl lady’, species like squirrel gliders. especially among the 80 or so landholders Natasha Schedvin checks on a breeding pair in the Woolshed Valley. “Given this varied diet, you would who allowed her access to their properties. expect them to do well in all sorts “Many of them have been very hospitable of environments so the question is and interested and some have helped why aren’t they? They seem to like the me trap owls,” says Natasha who, as edges of woodlands that abut pastures, a thank you, is organising a barbecue the more fertile sites and strips along with donated supplies of barking owl the drainage lines. This country is wine from Millbrook Winery in productive and provides more prey for Western Australia. them to live on. I am hoping my analysis will give details of what it is about the Meanwhile, barking owls remain listed species habitat’s characteristics that as endangered in Victoria, threatened in impacts on their survival.” NSW, and as rare in South Australia.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 13 Group action on the
By Melissa Pouliot
Kaniva district farmer, historian and Landcare enthusiast Ross McDonald relaxes in the paddock. Picture courtesy of The Weekly Times.
The Kaniva District Landcare group “About one-third of our membership Serviceton Railway Station to look at is relatively new to the Landcare scene is from the town, the rest from the a tree-planting project the group but it has made major inroads into farming areas. We also co-ordinate a completed several years ago. local environmental work including TOPCROP program.” A stroll along the long, wide platform, rabbit and weed control and some Ross McDonald, who is well known through the beautifully restored dining extensive revegetation projects. in the district for his preference for room, down into the cold cellar and into The group got underway back in 1997 wearing thongs in all seasons, is the the dark dungeon added to a memorable after Alan Meyer, a third-generation group’s president. Landcare is just one visit to this sparsely populated area on Kaniva district farmer, and Rob Scalzo of many of Ross’s passions, which also the western fringe of the Wimmera. called a preliminary meeting. Around include history and the future of farming. According to Alan Meyer the Serviceton 20 people turned up – all of them in Alan, Rob and Ross work closely with Railway Station project was a way for favour of forming a Landcare group. weeds facilitator Nolan Roll and rabbit the active group to create a unique A year later around 50 people came facilitator Rob Baillie to keep projects environment around a unique landmark. to the group’s inaugural meeting and kicking along. Rob also facilitates the “This site was an awesome eyesore. were part of a productive brainstorming group’s trees and vegetation projects. It was just a patch of weeds and very session. A facelift for Serviceton little native vegetation was left around “Ours is a real community group, not the area. just a farming group,” Rob Scalzo, Weeds, rabbits, vegetation projects and “We thought it would be a great idea who has since moved away from a touch of history were part of my field to plant trees and shrubs to create a Kaniva but maintains strong links trip with the group last year. On a cold good environment around this amazing with the group, said. winter’s day, regular rain gusts blew across the western plains. First stop was the historic building,” Alan said.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 14 Group western front News
Another Serviceton project the group is extremely proud of is at the town’s reservoir. The disused reservoir is the only permanent waterhole in the entire district – worth nurturing for the long-term future of the area. In 2000 the group planted 1000 trees at the site, where people gather for fishing, camping and barbecues. In 2001 they planted a further 500 trees and are actively seeking heritage funding to fix an old jetty that needs replacing.
Healthy turnover At the group’s last annual meeting, Alan Meyer, who proficiently fills the treasurer’s role, reported the previous Rob Scalzo admires a Grey Mulga year’s turnover of grants and submissions at the Serviceton Railway Station. was $90,000. This included grants from positive ‘can do’ attitude will ensure State Government Second Generation that things are never quiet on the Landcare funding, which is distributed ‘western front’. by the Wimmera CMA. For further information contact The group’s great mix of urban and rural Mark Edwards at the Wimmera CMA Landcare projects combined with a on 5382 1544. An original stand of River Red Gums makes an attractive feature in this paddock west of Kaniva in Western Victoria.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 15 Plantations and greenhouse – your questions
longer-term production of renewable firewood and timber has even greater greenhouse benefits than a tree planting that is just left alone to grow old. This is because there is generally a limit to the amount of carbon that a forest can absorb, and at full maturity the forest will be at an equilibrium. However, a forest/plantation managed to produce a sustainable (ongoing) supply of greenhouse friendly products such as timber helps to free up the forest to grow and store more carbon (until it reaches equilibrium again).
This new Sugar Gum plantation, established with the help of Victorian Government private forestry Q. Doesn’t burning firewood increase initiatives, will be managed for firewood and sawn timber. our greenhouse emissions? A. The burning of most fuel to Graeme Anderson works for DPI in Q. What’s the use of planting trees as produce energy (oil, coal, gas, Geelong as the local manager of the a greenhouse sink if they will eventually wood) releases greenhouse emissions. Plantations for Greenhouse Program. be cut down? One critical difference is that firewood Plantations for Greenhouse is a $1.5m that is sourced from a renewable A. Most people think that planting trees Victorian Government Greenhouse and plantation is actually greenhouse as a carbon sink that will eventually be Private Forestry initiative which is neutral – this means the carbon harvested defeats the purpose. Why not establishing over 1500 hectares of new released from burning the wood is plant the trees and just leave them there? longer-term timber and greenhouse taken back (sequestered) by the plantations across Victoria in partnership Surprisingly, a plantation established on plantation as it regrows. It’s basically with local farm forest growers. cleared farmland that is managed for a greenhouse gas recycling program. Graeme spends much of his time answering questions from landholders A group of Master Treegrowers learn how Sugar Gums can about plantations and greenhouse. Here be managed to provide sawn timber and fuelwood supplies. are some of the most frequent queries. Q. Can you briefly explain the concept of carbon sinks? A. Climate change or the ‘enhanced greenhouse effect’ is caused by the increased concentration of greenhouse gases (such as CO2) in the atmosphere. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a fundamental task; however, the planting of new forests can sequester (absorb) greenhouse gas from the atmosphere and serve as a valuable ‘sink’. The stored carbon in these new greenhouse plantings will become a saleable commodity in future.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 16 answered
Sugar Gum plantations in western Victoria supplied regular fuelwood and timber for much of the last century. Once established, these plantations can grow on to be harvested repeatedly, as the cut stumps will regrow.
Q. How can a renewable plantation resulting from various firewood production initially. While this may not result that produces firewood actually provide systems. in a net carbon sink, if all of the wood a net greenhouse carbon sink whilst grown was used as a fuel source it would The report found that there is actually still producing an energy resource at have provided a greenhouse benefit due a net sequestration of carbon per unit of the same time? to the fact that an equivalent amount energy produced from burning firewood of other greenhouse emitting fuel A. It’s all about the change in landuse collected from a coppiced short rotation (and thus emissions) was not required. from cleared agricultural land (with low Sugar Gum plantation. carbon storage) to a new sustainable This outcome is still better than However, the AGO report showed that no plantation at all. However, plantation based landuse. Over the longer collecting firewood from the thinnings, permanent landuse change towards term (repeated rotations) the plantation harvest residues and other material from plantations has much better outcomes goes on to produce a plentiful supply of beneath a plantation grown for sawlog for greenhouse. wood products such as fuelwood (energy), production (long rotation Sugar Gum) while at the same time substantially provided the greatest benefits in terms Q. Do plantations provide other increasing the overall carbon levels that of carbon sequestered per unit of energy benefits aside from greenhouse? are stored on site. The key aspect is the produced. change to a forested landuse which A. Well-designed plantations can provide increases longer-term carbon usage Q. What happens to the greenhouse many other benefits such as salinity and storage. benefit if I grow the trees, cut them down control, farm shelter, biodiversity and and then return the land to pasture? improved catchment health as well as Q. Are Sugar Gum plantations good producing fuelwood and timber. for greenhouse? A. If at the end of the day you harvest all the trees and return the land to the For more information about Plantations A. A recent report by the Australian original agricultural landuse – the final for Greenhouse contact your regional Greenhouse Office (AGO) looked at the carbon stored on the land is likely to DPI Private Forestry Officer or Graeme greenhouse emissions from woodheating return to the very low carbon levels found Anderson at DPI Geelong on 5226 4821.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 17 Tree growers wanted in the
A group of farmers in north-east Victoria eucalypt sawlog plantations in minimum “It was a challenge for me – to learn are aiming to be a major supplier of high 10-hectare lots. about tree growing, and, more recently, quality sawlogs to the timber processing to get involved in business planning There are currently 1700 hectares of trees industry by 2015. To achieve this they and marketing.” planted. All the follow-up silviculture have formed a co-operative and are such as pruning and thinning has been Peter had completed all of the pruning looking for other like-minded timber the responsibility of the landholders. and thinning on the plantation himself growers to be part of their enterprise. until recently when he hired a contractor Farm Forestry North East (FFORNE) is a Diversifying a small property for lift pruning. group of 130 growers who have established Peter and Kate Houghton planted 8000 “Now the trees are starting to get a bit native hardwood plantations for sawlog blue gums on ten hectares of their property bigger I’m not so keen on the ladders.” production on farms in the north-east. at Lurg, near Benalla, in 1998. The From 1996 to 1998, with financial Houghtons moved to the area as active The FFORNE Hardwood Co-operative assistance from the Victorian State retirees. They breed thoroughbred horses, was formally registered in 1999 and has Government, the landholders established run sheep and manage the plantation. around 70 registered members. Peter Houghton has been involved in the Peter Houghton says he saw the co-operative from its inception. He is Government scheme as a good a past chairman and a current board opportunity to diversify. member.
Peter Houghton with Stella the filly.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 18 Group north-east News
Business plan points to expansion the consistent quality of the sawlogs produced across the different plantations. Peter and the other growers realised that This means high quality, intensive in order to have an ongoing and viable management – a feature of FFORNE’s hardwood sawlog industry, investment was operations to date. needed to increase the size of the resource. Funding was sought through NHT to “FFORNE is a venue for sharing skills and develop a business plan to determine the knowledge and making sure we are all on- best way forward to make this expansion track to produce the best possible product. happen. The group runs some very professional field days and there is a great deal of Peter explains that by forming a co- technical information available.” operative the growers can work as a single entity to finance expansion and trade with The next step for FFORNE is to a market that traditionally has been small implement its business plan and find and made up of very large companies. funding to employ a qualified business manager. “Our goal is to produce an annual yield of 200,000m3 of high quality logs by FFORNE envisages plantations as being harvesting 1000 hectares per year from an integral part of a diverse farming an estate of 20,000 hectares which will business. Peter and Kate Houghton agree give FFORNE a sufficient level of market that there are other benefits besides Peter inspects his Blue Gum plantation. power and be attractive as a supply source timber. They are really enjoying the birds for major sawmills.” and other wildlife the trees are attracting to their property. To meet this target FFORNE will need to establish 1000 hectares of new plantations For further information about FFORNE on farms annually for the next 20 years; contact Peter Houghton on 5766 4212 Why hardwood plantations and to attract at least 25 landowners each or write to The Secretary, Box 538 can be good for farms: year (with 40-50 hectares of suitable Benalla 3671. land). • Plantations create compatible Kate Houghton checks a mare and foal. agricultural, hydrological and According to Peter there are more than social outcomes. 800,000 hectares of suitable land in the north-east capable of growing eucalypt • Plantations can provide good plantations and FFORNE needs less than shelter for stock and increase 2% of this land to achieve sufficient lambing rates and survival. supply to sawmills. • Plantations can help to protect crops. Consistent quality essential • Plantations can help to reduce The expansion aims are based on sound salinity levels. economic, social and environmental principles. Farm forestry adds diversity • Plantations reduce wind and to rural production, brings industry, water erosion. employment and skills to the region and • Plantations improve the reduces dependence on native forests. landscape. Peter Houghton says one of the keys to the long-term success of FFORNE will be
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 19 Plantation companies target foxes
Fox control is one of the core land “Landowners and plantation owners management responsibilities for timber realise that working in isolation only gives companies in south-west Victoria. short-term relief; working co-operatively magnifies the results,” he said. John Matthews, a DPI Pest Plant and Animal Team Leader who works closely Great Southern Plantations Ltd (GPSL), with timber companies in the Green Timbercorp, Integrated Tree Cropping Triangle area, would like to see a change (ITC) and Treecorp all emphasised the in the perception that the forest industry need for a joint approach to fox control, harbours foxes and is doing little about with Government, the community and them. the timber companies working together. John Matthews assists timber companies Timbercorp has recently implemented to develop best-practice fox control large-scale fox baiting operations on programs. In his experience it usually only treefarms in the Hamilton and takes one request from a neighbouring Mumbannar regions in conjunction with property to have company action members of the community and DPI. implemented. Integrated Tree Cropping (ITC) has “Companies welcome requests from baited around plantations in the northern neighbouring properties, and deal with area of the estate, its activities coinciding them promptly and appropriately. with the local farmers’ fox control action. The forest managers regularly make The joint effort is planned at the optimum contact with departmental staff and time for lamb production. Landcare groups because, in general, ITC also gives support to threatened forest managers are extremely supportive wildlife by co-ordinating fox control to of community baiting programs. assist the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Program. According to John Matthews GPSL, Treecorp, ITC and Timbercorp all adhere to strict protocols when undertaking baiting programs. “The level of professionalism is very high. The companies always notify their neighbours and invite discussion on baiting. There is a real recognition that to be successful a program needs to be well planned and collaborative. “Nobody wants to see other foxes recolonising previously baited areas.”
Les Robinson (right) from GPSL and Anthony Tys from Timbercorp (centre) discuss fox control with Ryan Cook (left) and John Matthews (kneeling) from DPI Hamilton.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 20 Fox on the run
Foxes throughout Victoria will be under to establish territories of their own Jason Riethmuller is encouraging as many pressure this autumn and spring. and are scavenging to survive.” landholders as possible to get involved in order to make the project work. As part of the ‘Fox on the Run’ program According to Jason the most successful DPI is working with farmers to conduct fox control campaigns use a variety “Foxes have a real impact on lamb large-scale baiting campaigns to protect of approaches, such as baiting, shooting marking percentages and cost the industry lambs from fox attack. and den fumigation, over a large area millions of dollars a year. But this is Jason Riethmuller, Fox Project of land in a concentrated period of time. something we can change when we all work together. We need as many Co-ordinator from Horsham, said that “Foxes live in family groups and are landholders involved as we can so that DPI will be working with farmers in territorial animals with well-defined autumn and spring to co-ordinate the effect of the program has widespread home ranges but may move more than comprehensive fox control campaigns benefits.” 10-15 kilometres outside their territory and protect vulnerable livestock. searching for prey. Jason Riethmuller is keen to hear “Treating foxes at least twice a year from landholders and Landcare groups “Because of their ability to travel large is important because you can target who want to be involved. distances and quickly recolonise small vulnerable life stages. areas, achieving effective fox control “We can assist them in developing a “Spring is when vixens are vulnerable requires co-ordination and a spirit of program for their area,” he said. because they are looking for food to co-operation between neighbours For further information contact support a young family. Autumn is when and groups of neighbours.” juvenile foxes are dispersing and looking Jason Riethmuller on 5362 0716.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 21 Weed control
by helicopter By Melissa Pouliot
Paterson’s Curse is the focus of an annual weed control program in the steep hills of Elmhurst in the upper Wimmera Catchment. Paterson’s Curse has been discussed by landholders in the area since the Second World War but it wasn’t until the 1970s that it became a concern. Landholders organised a working bee where about 40 people pulled weeds out by hand. The curse lay low for a few years but about four years ago landholders became concerned and decided it was time for further action. Because of the steep terrain, slope and difficulty of access to the hills area, the Landcare group decided it needed a plan to look at different ways to tackle the problem. Having a plan meant the group could successfully bid for funding through programs such as Wimmera Catchment Management Authority’s Second Generation Landcare Grants. Successful grant applications have resulted in a novel weed-control method Tim and Ann Barden, of Ko-warra Nursery, Echuca, attended the Northern – using a helicopter. It’s the first time United Forestry Group’s Conference and Expo at Kamarooka earlier this year. this method of weed control has been used in the region and it has been very successful. The group has now completed three rounds of helicopter spraying. Group member Michael Greene said that helicopter spraying combined with handpicking and using a boomspray on a tractor in accessible areas had significantly reduced weed infestations. For further information contact Mark Edwards at Wimmera CMA on 5382 1544.
Michael Greene of Elmhurst checks the success of a helicopter spraying program on his property.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 22 In Brief
The Revegetation Book The Hopkins Moyne Land Management Group has launched a new book to assist landholders to plan their revegetation works and identify indigenous species that are easy to grow in the local area. This excellent small publication contains details about 21 species, from how and when to collect seed, to what other species it grows with, to its role in the ecological community. The high quality colour photographs allow for easy identification of the form, leaves, flowers and nuts of each species. There is also a section on planning revegetation works and a list of relevant publications and websites. The group received funding assistance from Alcoa to help produce the book and has also utilised the knowledge of local staff from Greening Australia and DSE. Copies are available from various local outlets for $5.50 or by sending a cheque for $7.50 to the Hopkins Moyne Land The Revegetation Book produced by the Hopkins Moyne Land Management Management Group, PO Box 43, Group has lots of advice for tree planters of all ages. Hawkesdale 3274. For further information call Karen Wales on 5599 8224. each Landcare group in the Maffra and Is it a native? was produced for landholders Indigenous Flora Species Districts Landcare Network. and Landcare group members involved in revegetation projects and/or replacing Selection Guide The guide is a product of the Wellington introduced plants with natives local to Greenprint project of the Edison Mission A beautifully illustrated guide to native the area. Energy Landcare Program, with additional vegetation is being distributed to farmers in the Wellington Catchment around sponsorship from Greening Australia According to the CD’s author, Ern Maffra to help them with land and the Wellington Shire Council. Perkins, some native plants of central Victoria are often mistakenly identified rehabilitation works. It is a valuable reference tool and includes as weeds. The Indigenous Flora Species Selection maps which detail the EVCs in each area, Guide was launched with a spring identify the location of remnants and The CD was produced with assistance wildflower walk along the Munro railway provide an understanding of the local from the Shire of Mount Alexander, reserve east of Maffra last year. The guide landscape. the North Central CMA and some private donors. provides information about choosing the For further information please contact right species mix in re-establishing Clare McInnes on 0428 311 518. Is it a native? is available from the vegetation communities that have been Mount Alexander Shire Council offices cleared in the region. Is it a native? at 25 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine, or The guide comprises a list of species from The Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club by sending a cheque for $7.00 to the the major ecological vegetation classes have produced a CD to assist with weed Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club Inc, (EVCs) that occurred in the area of identification in Central Victoria. PO Box 324, Castlemaine 3450.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 23 FOXOFF® Fox Bait & Econobait Protecting Victoria’s Lambs & Wildlife Work with your neighbours in integrated baiting programs to stop fox predation. • Precisly dosed, pre-prepared baits • Shelf-stable without refrigeration • Clean and simple to use in the field • Single bait lethal to the largest fox • A leading method of fox control in rural areas
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Victorian ISSUE 31 andcareandcare LL & CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT
The philosophy of water
10 years of Woady Yaloak action Win a beaut new book Editorial contributions Carrie Tiffany, Tiffany and Associates CONTENTS 1 Lane Street, Blackburn North 3130 CONTENTS Phone 9894 2169 Fax 9894 2515 E-mail: [email protected]
Mailing list enquiries The history of Grow West Brenan Wotherspoon, Victorian Farmers direct seeding success Federation, Phone 9207 5527 Fax 9207 5500 6-7 14-15 E-mail: [email protected] Advertising Paul Crock Phone 0418 377 264 Fax 9428 4676 Meet the Broughton/ Listening to Yanac team Landcare stories Cover photograph: 16-17 22 The Goulburn River by Andrew Chapman. Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management is published for the Victorian Landcare community by the Victorian Farmers Federation in partnership with the Department of While every effort has been made to Natural Resources and Environment, Alcoa World Alumina Australia, the Victorian ensure the accuracy of statements in Catchment Management Council and the Natural Heritage Trust. Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Magazine the Victorian Farmers Federation, its partners, agents, servants, and contractors disclaim all responsibility for the statements quoted herein. DEN-CO-FUME® Carbon monoxide cartridges Clean, humane, and highly effective method for fumigating fox natal dens
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Making community Landcare even stronger was the theme of the 2004 Victorian Landcare Forum held in Bendigo on 3-4 June. The State Landcare Team, the Victorian Landcare Network and the Victorian Enthusiastic participants at the recent Victorian Landcare Forum. Catchment Management Council invited the Landcare community to reflect on almost 20 years of success and consider Mark said there was a strong sense of peak body to represent community Landcare’s role in natural resource enthusiasm and optimism at the forum. Landcare groups. management in the years ahead. "Groups of people worked together on Mark said a key component of the forum According to Statewide Landcare tasks of common interest and achieved saw participants identifying what support Facilitator Mark Costello the forum some really concrete outcomes. The and/or partnerships would be required had a strong community focus. Landcare movement has some highly to make their future actions possible. “We set up the process and the skilled people who are great thinkers, The forum will reconvene on 16 July participants ran with it. It was the first speakers and leaders. These skills really and prospective partners invited along time I’d really seen empowerment in came to the fore." to discuss how the actions can proceed. action at this scale and type of event and it Participants identified ten major priorities For further information contact Mark was inspiring to watch it unfold," he said. at the forum, these included increasing Costello on 5430 4526. Over 300 people attended the forum, the engagement of indigenous We will cover future developments around 60% directly representing communities with Landcare, increasing with the Victorian Landcare forum in community Landcare or other natural the commitment to curriculum-based upcoming issues. resource management groups. Landcare education for young people, integrating Landcare as part of the The forum kicked off with a deeply Mathew Guy, Carrie Tiffany and sustainable farming business and working moving welcome to country from Joanne Webber towards the formation of a Statewide Dja Dja elder Brien Nelson. Mark Costello said hearing Brien speak about his connection to country opened up a whole new window on the meaning Book prize for best letter of Landcare. Healthy debate is an important part of any community “Brien, and Koorie Ranger Bambi Lees, movement. Do you have an opinion on David Mitchell's put everything into context. They showed piece on the philosophy of water, or maybe you'd like us that Landcare is about more than the to add something to Fergus Irving's history of direct environment. It is about our sense of place seeding? and purpose in life.” We are offering a prize for the best letter to the editor. The forum was designed as a three-step Letters should be sent to Carrie Tiffany at the address process. Participants looked at the on the page opposite. They should include a name, strengths and successes of community address and telephone number and be less than 300 Landcare, listened to speakers who words. Letters may be edited for clarity and length. identified future trends and then worked as individuals, local area groups and finally The closing date for letters for the next issue is 13 networks to identify what actions they August 2004. The prize for the best letter is a copy could take to make community Landcare of Old Land, New Landscapes by Chris Williams. stronger in the future. See page 23 for a review of this excellent new book.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 3 Endangered species update
Good news for a shy honeyeater The one flower of the Rob Price, DSE’s Manager of Flora and McIvor Spider Orchid Fauna for north-western Victoria reports The McIvor Spider Orchid (Caladenia that one of Australia’s most critically audasii) is one of the most endangered endangered birds, the Black-eared Miner, native orchids in Australia. is on the road to recovery, According to Geoff Nevill, DSE According to Rob, the Miners’ habitat is Threatened Species Project Officer, only a mature stands of mallee, unburnt for at single flower of this species appeared last least 40 years. Following European year – out of a known population of three settlement, fire regimes in the Mallee plants near Bendigo and a single plant changed with a trend towards less near Stawell. frequent, hotter fires that burn out very Geoff Nevill is working on recovery plans large tracts of country. for a number of nationally endangered “We know that large areas of mature plant species and some Victorian mallee have been cleared and fragmented endangered or vulnerable plant species as since European settlement,” Rob Price well. said. The recovery plans include various actions Rob says the birds are very shy and that such as surveys for new populations, they are difficult to breed in captivity. But managing threats to existing populations, they have had success at Healesville determining the growth rates and viability Sanctuary and Adelaide Zoos, and the of populations, and attempting to increase captive-bred birds were released and the size of existing populations through The McIvor Spider Orchid is one of the most endangered native orchids in Australia. appeared to be doing well. fine-scale habitat management and propagation. “Over the last five years we’ve also had very successful reintroductions into Geoff Nevill said DSE has commenced Murray-Sunset National Park with wild- the long haul of collecting data over a “We also work closely with other agencies, bred birds trapped at the Bookmark period of 10 to 15 years, and established such as Parks Victoria, local governments, Biosphere Reserve in South Australia.” permanent monitoring sites where the and community groups such as Field orchids are known to grow. Every Naturalists, and the Australian Native The program has succeeded in individual orchid is marked so its life cycle Orchid Society. establishing separate breeding colonies can be followed over the years. of the Black-eared Miner, which "The Bendigo Field Naturalists brought reduces the chance of the species “Many orchids may sit dormant for several the McIvor Spider Orchid population in Bendigo to our attention, and they being wiped out by a single wildfire. years between flowering, so we’re building continue to contribute to the Recent fuel reduction burning in the up a body of information that will help us management of this species." Murray-Sunset National Park has also make decisions on the best management for each species,” Geoff said. reduced the risks to areas of known According to Geoff a significant threat Black-eared Miner habitat. According to Geoff an important part of to orchid populations is simply the lack the work is minimising threats. of knowledge about how they should Rob Price said the program to rescue the best be managed. species took another important step last “We have fenced off vulnerable species, summer, with the release of captive-bred and in some cases caged individual plants "We still have a lot to learn, but hopefully birds into the Bronzewing Flora and Fauna to protect them from grazing, which is one by carefully documenting all our work, we Reserve, south of Ouyen. of the most serious threats. can learn how to manage them better.”
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 4 Natte Yallock tour highlights partnerships
Catchment By Jill Karena and Sandra Volk Management
Partnership was the theme of a recent Further sites visited at Natte Yallock works of the Kooreh Landcare Group bus tour around the Natte Yallock area included lucerne intercropping on Darren in conjunction with the North Central of north central Victoria. Ross's farm and a look at a nearby wetland CMA. This partnership approach has that has been direct seeded for effectively managed erosion on creeks The aim of the tour was to show the revegetation. and sloping farmland on the Proctor and existing and potential partnerships that Wandel properties in Kooreh. are necessary to achieve sustainable use Local natural resource management of our natural resources. The projects partnerships were illustrated at an The tour involved North Central visited were undertaken with funds from integrated paddock planning site that CMA and DPI project staff as well as the National Action Plan for Salinity will incorporate erosion control works representatives from the North Central and Water Quality and the Natural by the North Central CMA, and CMA Board, local government and Heritage Trust. vegetation protection and perennial Landcare, and landholders from the pasture establishment through the dryland dryland salinity targeted areas. The tour started at a site at Mt Hooghly, salinity program implemented by DPI. near Timor West, which has a history of According to North Central CMA diverse partnerships working together to The tour then moved on to Redbank Board member Jill McFarlane the bus address land management issues such as where several groundwater discharge tour was an excellent way of looking rabbits and erosion. Tour participants also sites were visited. Peter Hekmeijer at onground works and fostering strong witnessed a direct seeding success story. from Primary Industries Research and effective partnerships. Victoria described the technical processes The bus then moved into the Natte "Given the enthusiasm of the tour underlying the groundwater problems Yallock targeted salinity area, where participants, we are looking forward to in the area and a local landholder schoolchildren involved in the holding other tours to different parts described the difficulty in trying to Waterwatch program shared their of the north central catchment," Jill said. eradicate spiny rush, which is a national and international achievements symptom of saline discharge sites. For more information contact the at conferences and natural resource North Central CMA on 5448 7124. management forums. The final site of the day showcased the
Tour participants look at the North Central CMA river works on the Avoca River at Natte Yallock where rock structures have been built to halt the deepening of the river bed, which was affecting river health and habitat, and upstream infrastructure. A history of direct
Direct seeding underway at Woodside.
This is an extract of a talk Fergus Irving Seed collecting attracts 1985 by broadcasting seed on a well- gave to the Yarram Yarram Catchments police attention cultivated seed bed. We were very Network Annual Dinner earlier this year. encouraged by the results and were keen Jim and Elizabeth Bell were possibly the to do more. Direct seeding has a long history in first people in the Yarram district to try Victoria. The sugar gum plantations of the direct seeding. The Bells had been A Gippsland syndicate was formed in western district were direct seeded propagating their own seedlings using seed 1986 to produce a lightweight direct between 1870 and 1930. John Lang Currie which they had collected. Jim, while seeding machine to be called the (Elephant Currie) who owned Larra at collecting seeds, was questioned by the Gippsland Tree Seeder and to research Lismore and Mount Elephant at local police when a nervous widow living and promote tree seeding. Derrinallum was the first to direct seed in Station Street reported a suspicious We wanted a small, easily manoeuvred eucalypts by mouldboard ploughing then character up a tree near the Yarram machine that could be pulled by a light broadcasting the seed by hand. Railway Station. tractor. Bob Macleod from Giffard had the The 1913 edition of Victorian Agriculture, In September 1982 the Bells contracted machine operational within nine months. after noting that our fathers rather despised Richard Grice to direct seed two kilometres The parts were scrounged from old farm the gum tree, had a chapter on direct of windbreaks around their new property, machinery and a Morris 1100 which had seeding. It suggested windbreaks should be Banyula, opposite the Yarram Golf Course. been dumped in the bush. one chain wide and one sixteenth of the They used the Western Tree Seeder which farm should be sown to trees. had been developed by a Western district Tree seeder showdown syndicate. Richard Weatherly later took An article in the November 1980 edition In spring 1987 the machine was trialled over development of the seeder and it of Landscape Australia by John Clemens on 11 properties. Some sites had very good became the Eco Tree-Seeder. sparked renewed interest in direct seeding. tree establishment but the dry spring and The article was reprinted in a number of On our property, Tramore, at Woodside we competition from weeds led to very poor publications and widely circulated. direct seeded shelterbelts in 1983 and results on other sites.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 6 seeding By Fergus Irving
At the Gippsland Landcare Conference, with a good variety of species. In dry years which was hosted by Woodside in 1992, there may be poor germination and the we had a tree seeder showdown. We pitted wattles dominate and we sometimes then the Gippsland Tree Seeder mkI and mkII have to re-seed the following year. against the Eco Tree-Seeder and a As we learn more about our local trees newcomer, the Hamilton Tree Seeder, and collecting seed, our windbreaks have which had been developed at the Pasture increased in diversity. On quiet evenings Research Institute in Hamilton. We had Fergus Irving. we can sit in our kitchen and hear the the four machines line abreast in a trial koalas grunting away in the shelter belts we alongside Balloong Road. The machines planted along Ballong Road 15 years ago. has not caught on. Direct seeding is all produced similarly good results. cheaper and quicker than using tube stock The Gippsland Tree Seeder syndicate Different techniques succeed and can easily produce a greater diversity was wound up in 1993. Under Jim Lane’s Surprisingly not everyone has been of plants of local provenance, but so far leadership the syndicate had achieved seduced by the Gippsland Tree Seeder. the results are not as consistent for all soil its aims of constructing a direct seeding The 1870s technology of mouldboard types and in all seasons as those for tube machine and promoting the technique plough is still popular in heavy soil. Ian stock. of direct seeding. Commercially Nicol and Graeme MacLennan have tried The Landcare movement may have manufactured direct seeders were by then it and the Flemings at Fish Creek have hindered the development of direct readily available for hire and advice and used it very effectively. seeding and limited the extent of assistance with direct seeding could be revegetation by its policy of subsidising obtained through Greening Australia Gordon Graham at Flynn uses a delver the cost of tube stock used in revegetation and the Landcare movement. to scalp the soil before broadcasting seed. He has had outstanding results. projects. We have now direct seeded about 25 Bill Bodman used a delver along Hyland We must question the subsidising of hectares of windbreak on our property, Way at Won Wron and has now grown a nurseries and using volunteers to plant Tramore, mostly using the Gippsland forest. David Boddy scratched the verge of those seedlings as the most effective use Tree Seeder. In good seasons we quickly Cascade Road with a set of discs, scattered of our resources. If more of this money establish thick, natural looking bush on some seed and got magnificent results. was spent assisting direct seeding projects Over the last 15 years we have had a lot I feel sure we would have revegetated of seminars, field days, demonstrations and more country with thicker, better adapted, A recent direct seeding project at Tramore. talks on direct seeding but the technique more diverse plants of local provenance. A field day was held to demonstrate direct seeding on a dry stream bed.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 7 Catchment Management TheThe philosophyphilosophy
The lack of a shared responsibility health of Australia and that these funds The ethics of water amongst the Australian population for the should be administered by a special trust “Sustainable management of water is a management and use of water is a critical at a minimum bureaucratic cost. complex matter that impacts profoundly issue, according to one of Australia’s “The ecological footprint, in Australia, on the welfare of all Australians, and of leading wetland scientists and advocate has been estimated at seven hectares per their environment, now and into the for improving the quality and use of water, person. In other words, a typical family future. Professor David Mitchell. of four needs 28 hectares to sustain its “Moreover, all forms of life that are David Mitchell, Adjunct Professor with lifestyle. known to science require water for their Charles Sturt University’s School of “We need to spend money on the continued existence and in a very real Environmental and Information Sciences environment to save money rather than to sense, therefore, water is life. And, if life at Thurgoona, NSW, believes that water make money. We need to spend money to is sacred, as many human cultures believe needs a national perspective. stop the system worsening yet all we are it to be, then water resources should be “Most concern is directed at managing doing is spending money to correct the treated ethically, as well as economically rural water supplies, where there is the errors of the past.” and ecologically.” greatest demand. Yet, the urban David Mitchell's paper, 'The Philosophy Most of the water extracted from natural population, with the largest number of of Water – Water Is Life’ presented at the systems is used for agricultural production. users and the most cash wealthy, is not 21st Commonwealth Agricultural By 1996/97 annual water use had risen to directly involved. The rural population Conference in Albury earlier this year, 24,058 gigalitres or 1000 million litres seems to be carrying the burden of argues for an inclusive planning approach. (79% surface water, 21% groundwater), corrective change for the whole country an increase of 65% from 1983/84. Most yet it is much smaller and cash poor.” "The main difficulty for the management of this was due to a 76% increase in of Australian water resources is the largely irrigation water and a 55% increase for Environmental levy needed unpredictable and hugely variable nature domestic and industrial use. Also, huge of the distribution of water in Australia To this end David Mitchell supports the amounts of water are used to produce over time and space, in terms of both concept of an environmental levy so export crops and products. everyone contributes to the ecological quantity and quality," David Mitchell said. In 2001 for example, when Australian Professor David Mitchell says the challenge for water management is to control further growth in wheat exports totalled 16,406 kilotonnes consumption and to provide a balance between water for the environment and for society. (1000 tonnes), it can be calculated that 11,730 to 12,304 gigalitres of water contributed to its production. Rice exports between 1996 and 1999 averaged 601.5 kilotonnes per year. Water used to produce this rice is estimated at 932 gigalitres. As more water is used for agriculture, less is available for the environment. The ecological impact is considerable. “Environmental costs will be most marked when water-hungry agricultural or forestry products, which are derived from non- native species, draw down water more rapidly than native vegetation in dry periods, thereby extending and exacerbating drought conditions,” David Mitchell said.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 8 ofof waterwater By Margrit Beemster
Balancing water needs “The problems presented by the unusually This would require the removal of high variability of Australian water non-essential levee banks so that natural The challenges are to control further supplies calls for the development of a floodplain ecosystems are recharged growth in consumption of water and strategy based on variability being the regularly. This would also improve water to provide a balance between water normal condition, rather than a calculated quality. for the environment and for society. average figure,” he said. “Farming practices should relate more “The reasonable assumption that a “Instead of developing plans for average closely to ecological processes rather than long-term average value [rainfall] would represent the ‘normal’ condition has been water supplies, landholders should prepare being based on converting Australian shown to be seriously misleading, though contingency plans for a wide range of landscapes to suit practices that were it prevailed for many years and is still used scenarios.” developed in significantly different climates and conditions,” he said. as a basic point of reference by the general First preferences for water allocations population,” David Mitchell said. should be to agricultural production in To prepare for future growth, David “In reality, rather than being normal, dry years as the natural Australian Mitchell suggested Australia should focus the mean value is a rarity.” environment was equipped to cope research funds on cost-effective means with these conditions. of desalinisation of sea water. According to David Mitchell sophisticated modelling has helped For example, wetlands should be protected “The benefits of this for the whole of develop a more realistic understanding except in dry years when they could be humankind far transcend any foreseeable of the highly variable nature of Australia’s grazed providing the wetland soils have benefits that would accrue from finding water resources, but many misconceptions dried sufficiently to prevent pugging. water on the planet Mars.” still linger among landholders.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 9 Ten years of Group News Woady Yaloak
Kids were the focus at the Woady Yaloak Catchment Group's ten-year celebration. And appropriately so, this is a group committed to long-term community action. More than 200 local primary students and 350 adults joined Environment Minister David Kemp in Pittong for the recent celebration. It was a day for reflection, but also a day of action – the students painted a mural to commemorate the work of the group. Each student’s drawing focused on a section of Environment Minister David Kemp (middle) joined sister and brother team Alice and Kevin Knight at their local waterway. the celebration. Alice and Kevin have been central to the success of the Woady Yaloak Catchment Project and their commitment and capacity to get things done has been an inspiration to others. When joined together the paintings created a 100-metre-long mural collectable swap-cards promoting native the boundaries of Landcare and is one of representing the Woady Yaloak River. fish in the Woady Yaloak region. the few groups to tackle land degradation The mural captures each student’s vision on a whole catchment basis. of waterways for the future. A different approach The establishment of neighbourhood The students were entertained by the The Woady Yaloack Catchment Group groups across the catchment has been Connies, a performance troupe made up of was formed ten years ago by local farming instrumental in supporting local farmers former Melbourne tram conductors, who families keen to tackle land degradation in to change the way they manage their land cited poetry and sang in the old-fashioned the catchment caused by tree decline, soil for future generations. It has also increased ‘trammie’ tradition. Dressed in uniforms erosion and rabbit infestation. the social interaction between farmers and that span the eras of tram fashion, the Through innovation and strong the sharing of ideas and skills resulting in troupe produced tickets in the form of community spirit, the group has pushed a stronger community.
More than 200 local children painted the river mural. The current chairman of the group watched this scene and reflected that ten years is a long time, and that the children painting the mural were all born after the project started.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 10 action
The group was the first in Victoria to attract a major corporate sponsor in Alcoa World Alumina Australia. However, it was Alcoa’s unique approach to funding ($810,000 since 1990) that broke new ground in sponsorship support by providing no strings attached and allowing landholders to set their own priorities for the funds.
Building community capacity Cam Nicholson has been the group’s project officer since the beginning. He has been instrumental in encouraging local landholders to have a go. As a result almost 70% of farmers in the catchment are involved in the project. According to Cam, over the past decade the project has strengthened community capacity. "We have seen individuals become more willing to share information about their farm situation and the successes and failures of various actions they have tried. "Landholders have also grown to take A Connie discusses native fish with local children. on the challenges of natural resource management and appreciate the ways in which they live and farm within the Recognition for effort sustainable management of Victoria’s catchment. For example, planting trees natural resources. They are now Woady’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. in strategic locations on the landscape, representing Victoria in the national In 2003 the group won the Catchment creating shelterbelts and aiding in awards later this year. category of the Victorian Landcare awards sustaining biodiversity, not just along for outstanding achievements in the Interest about Woady’s environmental their driveway,” Cam said. achievements in farmer productivity has even spread as far as the United States. Jim Moseley, the Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, visited the Woady catchment during early February to see first hand Australia’s success story in sustainable Landcare management. For further information on the Woady Yaloak Catchment Project contact Cam Nicholson on 5258 3860.
Environment Minister David Kemp addresses the crowd at Pittong.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 11 Julie Weatherhead’s New Zealand
Julie Weatherhead, Facilitator for the to develop closer community-university The economics of sustainability Bunyip/Cardinia Catchment Landcare ties in the Taieri Catchment, while Julie Weatherhead was invited to the Network, spent part of last February encouraging environmental action on Dunedin symposium as the keynote in beautiful Dunedin at the Taieri the ground. speaker on the economics of sustainability. Waterways Symposium. One of the trust’s key projects is the The purpose of her speech was to Julie's invitation came from Gretchen restoration of one of the Taieri tributaries convince the local sheep and dairy farmers Robinson from the Taieri Trust – a – the Owhiro Stream. At the moment the of the farm productivity benefits of community-based organisation focused stream is degraded, and migratory fish like fencing and planting waterways and on the sustainable management of the the rare giant kokopu are having difficulty shelterbelts with native species. Taieri River. making their journey to the sea. According to Julie, the Bunyip/Cardinia Trust aims to restore Landowners along the stream margin Catchment Landcare Network has found Taieri Catchment have agreed to fence areas of their farms that the economic and ecological benefits and transform sections once grazed to of these works start to become apparent to The Taieri Trust evolved out of University the water’s edge into models for what landholders as soon as they are completed. of Otago community-orientated can be achieved within the lower Taieri "A lot of research has been done in participatory research conducted in Catchment using native vegetation. the late nineties. The Taieri Trust aims Victoria and NSW which supports our
One of the streams that the Taieri Trust is hoping to regenerate with indigenous native plants. Catchment Management adventure By Carrie Tiffany
"People were particularly interested to hear how we had gone about convincing farmers to fence off 20 metres from the waterways. "There is a definite willingness on behalf of the New Zealand farmers that I met to co-operate in these sorts of waterway protection projects and they are really interested in the mechanics of how they work," Julie said. Julie's speech was well received by farmers, Government bureaucrats and the Taieri Trust alike. The Trust now hopes to assist farmers with small numbers of protection works as limited funding for incentives is available at present. Tussock in the hills around Dunedin. Julie invited any interested New Zealand local experience. As well as the economic amenity of property and community farmers to visit the Bunyip/Cardinia benefits there are also social benefits when capacity building," Julie said. Catchment Landcare Project and see a landholder is part of the local Landcare firsthand some of the 200 projects Farmers keen to co-operate group and joins in the community involving the fencing off of waterways, activities of planting and weeding." Julie was very impressed with the attitude remnant vegetation protection and Julie presented some hard facts in her talk of the people that she met and also with wetlands which make up 25% of which demonstrated the productivity the dramatic tussock hill landscapes properties in the catchment. around Dunedin which are so different to benefits from animal and pasture For further information contact Julie our own. protection using indigenous native species. Weatherhead on 6942 8580. "We are seeing similar results as the NSW and Victorian studies such as 30% more Julie Weatherhead standing at the top of the world's steepest street in Dunedin. grass in protected pastures, 50% of clover pollinated by native insects, a 21% increase in animal liveweight, 31% more wool, a 50% reduction in lambing losses, improved fertility, foetal development, milk production, birth mortality is down and liveweight gain is increased, less use of pesticides and crops yields increasing up to 47%. "There are also many environmental benefits including improved water quality from fencing waterways and wetlands, improved fish habitat, lower salinity levels, increased property values, increased
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 13 Grow West and the protect a critical
Group By Carrie Tiffany News
Graham Simpson in front of the long-awaited fence.
When Graham and Marlene Simpson Major improvements underway Three group bid succeeds bought their Rowsley Valley property Graham got busy with improvements The situation was turned around recently in 1962 they described it as being on the property which he turned into a when three local groups came together 'cheap and nasty' – but at the time it successful mixed farming enterprise and were successful in obtaining an was the only way they could get into combining wool growing and cropping. His Envirofund grant to complete the project. farming. first major task was controlling soil erosion. Friends of Werribee Gorge and Long According to Graham the property Throughout the 1960s he worked closely Forest Mallee Inc, Parks Victoria and was totally unimproved with 1700 with the Soil Conservation Authority and acres divided into just three paddocks. was rewarded for his efforts in 1978 winning the South Eastern Hanslow Cup. "It was a real cocktail of problems – rabbits, thistle and erosion – we had Later on he became an active member Photopoints of the fence which will be it all," Graham said. of the Rowsley Valley Landcare Group revisited in the years to come to show how the site is regenerating. working on rabbit and serrated tussock But the property also had an area of control programs. He is now keenly Box Ironbark forest abutting the involved in Grow West. Werribee Gorge State Park. Graham noticed when he shut the area up every Although busy with farming, raising spring the understorey would start to children and improving the property it regenerate, but as soon as he put the was always Graham's intention to fence the sheep back in they grazed it flat. Box Ironbark forest out. However, in recent years, with income from the farm declining, "You could really notice the difference it was starting to look as though his plan in the areas the sheep walked through was getting further and further away. and those they left alone. It was clear to me that if the area could be locked "I used to watch the wethers chew the up permanently it could be a terrific shoots back in the summer and think environmental asset." how long can this go on – surely one day this bush is going to die."
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 14 Simpsons local remnant
Grow West will work with the Simpsons One piece of the puzzle to fence the 68-hectare Box Ironbark The Simpsons project is one piece of a forest on the property and plant 2200 key larger landscape plan. Their remnant will understorey species and 300 overstorey form part of a biolink between the White species to enhance the site. Elephant Reserve and Werribee Gorge The works will protect the depleted Box State Park. Ironbark forest and other existing trees, According to Carmen Zerafa, Grow West shrubs and grassland plants, including rare Project Co-ordinator, this will then form species such as Fragrant Saltbush. It will part of an even larger landscape plan also contribute to the conservation of aimed at joining the Brisbane Ranges habitat for threatened species like the National Park, White Elephant Reserve, Powerful Owl and Brush-tailed Lerderderg State Park and Long Forest Phascogale. Flora and Fauna Reserve. Graham is really excited about the project Carmen describes Grow West as a large- and reports that the works are already scale landscape change project that was underway. born from the desire of the local "We are in the process of placing a community and stakeholders to improve covenant on the site with Trust for Nature the degraded landscapes of the area. to ensure its long-term protection. I think The Grow West project area covers a in the future people will see a property diversity of landscapes, from fertile alluvial with a protected remnant such as this as a river flats, rolling pastures, slight slopes to real asset." steep gorge country. According to Carmen it is in this steep and harsh gorge country that landholders are desperately trying to control infestations of pest plants and animals that spread on to productive agricultural lands and into natural vegetation areas. "Over time, Grow West hopes to rejuvenate the 50,000-hectare project area by revegetating at least 10,000 hectares with a massive mosaic of native vegetation, farm forestry plantations and other sustainable landuse and management options tailored to suit each site," Carmen said. For further information contact Carmen Zerafa on 5367 2922.
Bob Reid and Judy Douglas from Friends of Werribee Gorge and Long Forest Mallee Inc are delighted to have been involved in the project. Wimmera group says a facilitator is the
Broughton/Yanac VFF Landcare Vermin So what is it that keeps the likes of pay a facilitator to help with and Weed Control Group members President Roy Dickinson and members administration and organisation," are dedicated and passionate about Brett Wheaton and Malcolm Jarred Roy Dickinson says. what they do. so enthusiastic? They joke that it's The group is aiming to rid the area of the meetings at Group Facilitator Not only have they attracted major rabbits and weeds including Paterson’s Joan Gordon’s home where they get funding for the past three years to control Curse, Horehound and Cape Tulip. It’s a to sample her home cooking. rabbits and weeds in their area, they challenge considering that the best times have actually done the work. Using grants to pay for to spray weeds are also the busiest times for farming. Then there's the job of co- And considering it’s all voluntary and administration and organisation ordinating equipment so that everyone that it has to fit around farming, work "Sitting around Joan's log fire enjoying gets a turn and meeting the funding and family commitments that's a pretty some homemade muffins is certainly an requirements that have strict timelines on good effort. attraction, but actually we put our success when money has to be spent. down to using part of the grant money to
From left, Joan Gordon, Malcolm Jarred, Roy Dickinson and Brett Wheaton discuss their rabbit control program while inspecting their equipment.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 16 key to success Landholders with active bush stone curlew nests are invited to make contact with researchers at Charles Sturt University.
By Melissa Pouliot Group News Have you seen this bird?
Do you have a bush stone curlew nesting in your paddock? If so, two Charles Sturt University PhD research students, Andrew Carter and Elisa Tack, would like to hear from you. Andrew and Elisa have just started a three-year research project investigating the habitat and management requirements of this endangered species, and are looking to find out where curlews are persisting throughout Victoria. While a survey in southern NSW by the Nature Conservation Working Group From left, Roy Dickinson, Glenn Dixon, Malcolm Jarred, Joan Gordon and Brett Wheaton relax in revealed about 100 birds, little is known Joan's lounge room while planning the weed and rabbit control program. of bird numbers in Victoria. “We are wanting to hear from landholders “This is where our facilitator plays a big broader range of activities that involve about as many active curlew nests as part in keeping the enthusiasm going,” more people and strengthening links possible, to monitor breeding success over Brett Wheaton says. between Landcare and agriculture. the next three years,” Andrew said. “Joan rings us up to remind us and helps But this group is eager to move forward. “We know there are a few birds around us co-ordinate the equipment so we can Its strong advice to other groups is to put Benalla and Yarrawonga but there doesn’t get it in the right location at the right some funding towards a paid facilitator. seem to be a huge breeding rate because time.” “It’s a new concept and not everyone is of predation by foxes and cats. Brett says the group works well in a keen to adopt it, but we highly recommend “Almost all remaining curlews are on co-ordinated but informal manner. having someone to manage the paperwork private land and without the co-operation so we can concentrate on getting the work of landowners the species could be in strife.” “If you have a meeting style that everyone done,” Roy Dickinson says. enjoys, people are more likely to come Andrew said the sites identified under the back and get involved,” he says. Broughton/Yanac Landcare Group is full survey would be kept confidential. swing into its warren ripping and spray Local decision-making The bush stone curlew is a shy, ground program for the year, which attracted a dwelling bird, about 60cm tall with long, “Another reason our group works so well $16,435 Second Generation Landcare gangly legs. It makes a distinctive wailing is because we’ve got local people making grant. cry at night that has been described as the decisions for their own area.” The Wimmera CMA distributes funds sound of a woman being murdered. The group recognises the challenges ahead from Second Generation Landcare – a Landholders can contact Andrew Carter for Landcare, such as keeping enthusiasm State Government funding program. on (02) 6051 9623 or by e-mail on levels of volunteers high, focusing on a [email protected]
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 17 In brief
Subscribe to Koala Science News for the latest news in koala research.
Koala Science News populations and the koala's emerging role past decade, as well as news about as a flagship for conserving Australia's upcoming events. The Australian Koala Foundation is bushland fauna and flora. getting ready to launch its first issue The website provides fast and easy access of Koala Science News, a free e-mail update Koala Science News is an initiative of to best practice examples of successful that brings the latest news in koala the Australian Koala Foundation. productive catchment management. research to land managers, planners, bush To subscribe, send an e-mail to Some of the tools that the group has regenerators, conservationists, students, [email protected] with subscribe developed also feature. Landscapes for the policy-makers and koala supporters in koala science news in the header. Future, a software package using geographic Australia and around the world. Woady online information system technology to help plan The first issue will tackle some of the Landcare works, is well worth a browse. broader issues affecting remnant eucalypt The Woady Yaloak Catchment Group The website address is woodland, the status of diminishing koala now has a website which details the group's history, its achievements over the www.woadyyaloak.com.au
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 18 In brief
RIRDC Rural Women’s Award 2004 Marilyn Lanyon from Boort is the Victorian State winner of the RIRDC Rural Women's Award for 2004. This national award scheme aims to support women who have a strong, positive vision for the future of agricultural production, resource management or their industries. Marilyn, in family partnership, has been growing processing tomatoes on an irrigation farm for over 25 years. After returning from a Women in The Victorian State finalists in the RIRDC Rural Women's Award. Back L-R: Marilyn Lanyon, Diane Robinson, Dianna Malcolm. Front L-R: Tanya McDonald, Thelma Hutchinson Horticulture South-East Asia Market visit (standing a little behind Tanya), Christina Carraturo, Donna Meola and Bev Fisher. in 2001, Marilyn decided to turn a serious supply situation into a value-adding opportunity and new business venture in the commercial production of 'Simply The State of Australia's Birds The report is available on the Department of the Environment & Heritage website Green Tomatoes'. The 2003 report on the State of at: http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/ Australia's Birds has now been published. Marilyn’s vision is for the women and men publications/birds-03/index.html of the processing tomato industry to work The favourable news is that a concerted together to remain viable and seek value- effort by dedicated individuals, recovery Salinity Solutions Conference adding opportunities so their future is not teams, landholders and governments Salinity researchers from across Australia dependent on multinational companies. has improved the prospects for several will converge on Bendigo in early August threatened species and that the Have your say on the ABC for a major salinity conference. conservation of birds can be compatible ABC Radio National's program, Bush with human landuses like sustainable Salinity Solutions is being convened Telegraph, is looking to hear from people farming. by the CRC for the Plant-based aged between 8 and 108 years, who are Management of Dryland Salinity and The unfavourable news is that the living in regional or rural parts of the Victorian Departments of DPI and implementation of recovery plans is poorly Australia who want to have their say on DSE. The theme of the conference has supported by governments and that the ABC Radio. been chosen to reflect the important populations of several common and partnership between science and the If you're interested, you will be widespread woodland birds of the wheat- community in providing appropriate contributing to Bush Telegraph's 'Country sheep belt continue to decline. solutions to address dryland salinity Viewpoint' segment. This involves writing According to the report there is strong in Australia. a 400-word script about anything to do circumstantial evidence that species with living in a regional area. richness is reduced where native A variety of speakers who are actively engaged in salinity research will talk on The piece needs to be written so that it vegetation clearance is continuing. the social, environmental and agronomic will sound natural when recorded. This detailed report makes interesting problems salinity is causing. For further information contact reading and would be useful to quote in For further information visit the conference Tara Vickers on 9626 1261 or e-mail funding applications for biodiversity-type [email protected] projects. website at www.cdesign.com.au/salinity2004
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 19 Catchment Management The Lloyds mend erosion and protect
Stuart Mill landholders Tony and Glenda The Racecourse Creek rises in a The initial advice was to create a new Lloyd are determined to do their bit to catchment on the Lloyds property and creek path to allow the natural waterway tackle the soil erosion that threatens their flows downstream into the Strathfillan to rehabilitate – an action that was to farm and waterways. They want to restore Creek and on to the Avoca River, where have devastating results. In just 12 the health of their property and the it contributes both salt and sediment. months, the artificial creek path had health of the landscape around them. eroded worse than the original. The Severe erosion worsens Stuart Mill is 25 kilometres from erosion continued at a rate of about St Arnaud. It is just outside the Poor subsoils and increased runoff caused 20 metres a year. National Action Plan for Salinity by the removal of perennial vegetation Obviously, a better solution needed to and Water Quality area of Carapooee – and hard setting soils make the land in be found. however, it is one of the North Central and around the creek prone to severe CMA’s targeted areas for degraded erosion. This became a major concern of In 2002, through their involvement in waterways. It also has a very active the Lloyds and in the early 1990s they the Stuart Mill Landcare Group and Landcare group. began searching for a solution. the group’s partnership with the North Central CMA, the Lloyds received support through the North Central CMA Waterways Works Program, the Australian Government Envirofund and the Victorian Government’s Second Generation Landcare Grants to undertake work on the creek. Several erosion control structures were built, banks were battered, the creekline was fenced to control stock then revegetated with indigenous trees and the adjacent slopes were sown down with grasses. “There’s been a lot of work done,” Tony said. “We’ve done a bit over the years, but this has been particularly good. There was a real risk that the erosion would keep on cutting paddocks in half and taking a lot of ground out of production." The Lloyds were so pleased with the work of the North Central CMA that they sent a letter of appreciation to Terry Stevens,
Tony and Glenda Lloyd alongside Racecourse Creek – the rocks have been placed in the creek to halt erosion.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 20 water quality By Sandra Volk
Severe erosion on the creek with works on the rock chute underway.
Waterways Works Supervisor, and his In addition, it will make the farm much project has showcased what can be done team in Charlton. more attractive and pleasant – a benefit to address the severe erosion control which you can’t put a price on. problems in this region. River health protection The erosion control works on the Lloyds “We plan to continue with this work both According to the Lloyds, the project will projects are ongoing, enabled through here at the Lloyds and with other forward- deliver multiple benefits to the the support of State and Australian thinking farmers in the region. However, environment and their farm productivity. Government funding sources and Landcare. we need an active, involved community. For example, the threat of erosion and the It can be a win-win situation in terms of The project has also required a amount of sediment transported into the environmental outcomes, and the health considerable commitment from the Avoca River will be greatly reduced, with and productivity of a property,” Terry said. Lloyds, who have provided labour for a positive effect on river health and land fencing, battering and revegetation. Tony and Glenda Lloyd agree. They are protection. They also have spent money establishing encouraging other farmers to work with Revegetation will enhance biodiversity, perennial pastures on land above the the North Central CMA and their local create corridors in the landscape, and creek. Landcare group so that they are able to provide shelter for stock. Fencing will take advantage of every opportunity to A showcase project protect the creek from unrestricted stock improve their land management. access but allow the Lloyds to manage the According to Terry Stevens, North For further information contact the North creekline more effectively. Central CMA Works Co-ordinator, the Central CMA on 5448 7124.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 21 Listening to the stories
of Landcare By Sandra Volk
The Landcare workshop participants surround a map of the north central catchment region.
The North Central CMA has been At a workshop in Bendigo during April the environment and repairing native listening to stories from the community Landcare representatives from all over landscapes throughout the region. to find out what makes Landcare work the region joined together with According to Clare Claydon, North and how we can build upon its strengths representatives from the North Central Central Regional Landcare Co-ordinator, for the future. CMA, DPI and local government to build the workshop allowed participants a vision for Landcare and to discuss how The findings will form part of a strategy to dream about what they could do to to develop its strengths and to dream being developed to provide a foundation make Landcare increasingly effective, about its future. for Landcare support over the next five inclusive, passionate and proud. years. Priority areas for future development "One aspiration was to have an in Landcare include raising awareness This innovative approach, which has environment report on the television of Landcare achievements, involving drawn the attention of policymakers news, sandwiched between the stock Landcare and its ethic in the education nationwide, has seen over 140 stories market report and sport. That would curriculum, passing the environmental collected from across the region. be quite an achievement," she said. cost of primary produce on to consumers, The stories follow the themes of attracting industry support for The Landcare Support Strategy will persistence, learning, achieving on environmental projects, encouraging be launched in spring 2004. For further ground works, bringing communities people to take personal responsibility for information contact Clare Claydon together and creating a sense of place. on 5440 1820.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 22 Old Land, Book Review
New Landscapes By Carrie Tiffany
"From the highway, I could see large areas of bushland draped over the ridges and low hills rising above the plains – grey-green ramparts shadowing the monoculture crops below. It didn't seem at all impossible to imagine more Landcare groups discovering the value of these areas, planning their ecological reintegration with stock routes or roads, or dreaming of returning locally extinct species to them."
Occasionally a book comes along that has read. As Chris gets to know the the potential to change the way people Sutherlands and the other farm families think. Chris Williams recently published he shares their frustrations and story of farmers, conservation and the conflicts. Old Land, New Landscapes Landcare movement should be essential is a fascinating story of a community reading for those involved in natural and of a landscape. resource management. Old Land, New Landscapes by Chris Old Land, New Landscapes is a case-study Williams is published by Melbourne of the Genaren Landcare Group in University Press and sells for $34.95 central-western NSW, with particular at all good bookshops. emphasis on the Sutherland family who create a wildlife sanctuary on their farm and work to reintroduce endangered mammal species. Mike and Kylie Sutherland with their sons Chris Williams is a natural resource James and Duncan amongst native grasses on management practitioner (currently the Genaren. Conservation Manager with Trust for Nature in Victoria) who understands that managing landscapes is, in the first instance, about managing people. Old Land, New Landscapes owes as much to the discipline of anthropology as the environmental and agricultural sciences. Williams has an engaging and highly readable style. He paints the broader picture of the landscape while focusing on the history and motivation of individuals. We learn, for example, that one of the Genaren landholders became a revegetation zealot out of guilt – he was making up to his wife for having brought her to such a 'God-forsaken' place 20 years before. This isn't a book offering easy solutions or even a happy ending but it is a compelling
Mike and Kylie Sutherland with their sons James and Duncan amongst native grasses on Genaren.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 23 Ad to come from Paul Crock Spring 2004
Victorian ISSUE 32 andcareandcare LL & CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT
Secrets of direct seeding
Bushfire preparation and recovery National Landcare Awards Editorial contributions Carrie Tiffany, Tiffany and Associates CONTENTS 1 Lane Street, Blackburn North 3130 CONTENTS Phone 9894 2169 Fax 9894 2515 E-mail: [email protected] Victorian Mailing list enquiries Landcare Forum Kamarooka project Beverley Wallace, Victorian Farmers reconvenes targets salinity Federation, Phone 9207 5527 6 12-13 Fax 9207 5500 E-mail: [email protected]
Advertising Paul Crock Port Phillip Fire safety and Phone 0418 377 264 Fax 9428 4676 Landcare Awards the environment 14-15 20-21 Cover photograph: Bushfire by Andrew Chapman. Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management is published for the Victorian Landcare community by the Victorian Farmers Federation in partnership with the Department While every effort has been made to of Sustainability and Environment, Alcoa World Alumina Australia, the Victorian ensure the accuracy of statements in Catchment Management Council and the Natural Heritage Trust. Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Magazine the Victorian Farmers Federation, its partners, agents, servants, and contractors disclaim all responsibility for the statements quoted herein.
Living with parks and forests means “living with fire”
The Victorian Government’s public land management For more information about the program and location and status of agencies - the Department of Sustainability and Environment proposed burns contact your local DSE office, visit (DSE) and Parks Victoria - have increased resources to carry www.dse.vic.gov.au/fires or call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line out fuel reduction burns on public land this spring. on 1800 240 667.
Fuel reduction burning is a vital part of DSE’s fire The highly variable weather in spring makes it difficult to predict management strategy to protect public land from the precisely which currently planned burns will actually be ignited. As a adverse effects of bushfire. guide, fuel reduction burns are planned in many areas of the State, including around the following: These prescribed burns are designed to take advantage of favourable weather conditions to reduce fuels in strategic NORTH EAST locations – particularly near townships. Tocumwal, Merrijig, Mansfield, Toolangi, Kinglake, Seymour, Maryville, Shelley, Tallangatta. Fuel reduction burning increases the chances for early fire suppression and provides a safer work environment for GIPPSLAND firefighters. Cann River, Foster, Nowa Nowa, Rawson, Marlo, Orbost, and Port Welshpool. DSE takes a strategic approach to fuel reduction burning, with the most critical areas given priority. It also considers SOUTH WEST relevant environmental factors, and deploys local knowledge Bacchus Marsh, Portland, Horsham, Ballarat, the Grampians, Little Desert when conducting prescribed burns. National Park and the Otways and Wombat forest areas.
The program will inevitably result in smoke and DSE will NORTH WEST work closely with the Environmental Protection Authority and Bendigo, Underbool, Big Desert/Wyperfeld, Clunes, Mitiamo, Avoca, Bureau of Meteorology to manage impacts on air quality and Echuca, Castlemaine, Maryborough, Cohuna, Rushworth, Heathcote, visibility. Similarly, the program may cause some localised Redsdale, and Gilford traffic disruption. PORT PHILLIP DSE has already started burning in some areas and will Toolangi State Forest, Langwarrin, the Dandenongs, continue its spring fuel reduction burning program during Warburton, Bass Coast, and the Mornington Peninsula. the next few months. Local media will be kept well informed. From the Best letter We have been delighted with the response to our request for letters. editors Loretta Boland of Gundowring North wins the prize for the best letter in this issue. She will receive a copy Victoria won two categories in the major environmental issues including pest of Chris Williams’ excellent book, prestigious National Landcare Awards plants and animals, as well as salinity, Old Land, New Landscapes. announced at Parliament House in nutrients in the waterways and erosion. Canberra on 1 September 2004. The closing date for letters for the next Brian Scarsbrick said, “Landcare is about issue is Friday 12 November. Letters Landcare Australia’s Chief Executive people power. When people band together should be sent to Carrie Tiffany at the Brian Scarsbrick congratulated the winners they can make such an incredible difference address on page 2. They should include and said that the Awards are a chance to and that’s very much what the Woady a name, address and telephone number stop, take a breath and congratulate some Yaloak group is all about. They set a plan and be less than 300 words. Letters of the amazing heroes who otherwise in motion to manage environmental issues may be edited for clarity and length. might never get a thank you. and it’s all been about viable businesses, looking after the local community and The best letter in the next issue Forestry Group is a research winner protecting local flora and fauna.” will win a copy of Mem Fox’s latest children’s book, Where is the Green The Northern United Forestry Group The Woady Yaloak Catchment Group Sheep? A great addition to the (NUFG) won the Telstra Countrywide has involved schools, local government, bookshelf or a present for the young Landcare Research Award to recognise industry and private sponsors. More than Landcarer in the family. their research excellence. $4 million has gone into the project – According to Brian Scarsbrick the Research most of it from private landholders. category is always hotly contested. Send us your stories “This is a fabulous win by a group of We are always interested in hearing landholders who are real pioneers. The from our readers. If you have a story, NUFG has 27 families at its core and it a letter, a comment or a suggestion meets monthly in Raywood. It is focused please don’t hesitate to get in touch. on establishing low rainfall farm forestry that works from a profit point of view and Mathew Guy, Carrie Tiffany and an environmental point of view. It’s a Joanne Webber delicate balance. They are getting it right. “The group has recognised that Australia’s Right: Michael Rowe from the Woady Yaloak natural wealth depends on our land and Catchment Group, Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Warren Truss, water. They are promoting commercial Gayle Sargeant from Sensis and Alice and Kevin tree growing on farms and their strong Knight also from the Woady Yaloak Catchment farmer base is managing the whole system. Group receiving their award. Knowing you have to have the right trees Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and in the right places and making sure there Forestry Warren Truss with Ian Peters from is good water quality, biodiversity and Telstra Countrywide presenting the Research Award to Leanne and Ian Rankin from the greenhouse benefits. I applaud that,” Northern United Forestry Group. Brian Scarsbrick said.
Woady Yaloak catchment winners The Woady Yaloak Catchment Group won the Sensis Landcare Catchment Award for its pioneering work in managing the Woady Yaloak catchment, which is home to over 220 farming families and 1100 small block owners. Representatives from the group were thrilled to receive the award in recognition of their efforts. The Woady Yaloak catchment area has a number of
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 3 Letters
Dear Editors, On our small property in north-east Victoria we have undertaken a tree planting project. This involved fencing out a couple of gullies and planting tubestock with the help of volunteers. We have found this method very labour intensive and due to drought conditions at the time the rate of success was not great. A large number of trees had to be replaced the following spring. After reading Fergus Irving’s article on direct seeding in the last issue of Landcare I had a discussion with our local Landcare co-ordinator on the feasibility of direct seeding an area of shelterbelt/wildlife corridor on our property. With the support of Landcare groups in our region (Kiewa catchment), we would like to give direct seeding a trial. In order to do so, the following problems would need to be Tubestock or direct seeding? The debate continues in this issue with two new stories on the benefits of direct seeding. addressed: • The prospect of seed being washed away by We live at the foot of the Strathbogie Ranges We are water creatures living on a water heavy rainfall. near Bonnie Doon and I have heard the planet. About 74% of the earth’s surface barking owl in the bush near us. is covered in water and 97% of that water • Slugs and snails eating the young plants and is found in the oceans. So if we exclude ants carrying away and burying the seed. I always read the Landcare magazine with saltwater, we are playing with only 3% of interest to see what others are doing. Our • Seeds competing with deep-rooted pasture the available water on the planet. grasses – despite weed control measures local group is Ancona Valley Landcare and So far we have been trying to remedy past being implemented. we were one of the first groups formed in Victoria. The revegetation of Brankeet Creek and current abuses of water usage in farming, I would imagine that direct seeding can was our main focus back in 1988 and that factories and urban usage – and this is be used only in areas with relatively even has long been completed. Our valley is now excellent. and mostly cleared ground. Others with unrecognisable from those early days of Professor Mitchell suggests many ways to experience may like to address these issues Landcare in Victoria as our community took save water and use it efficiently, respecting in future articles. Perhaps someone may on Landcare with a great passion. Today both environment and economy. But perhaps be willing to conduct a seminar or field day Landcare provides a community focus for us his most pertinent suggestion is that we focus on direct seeding in our region sometime – and we are still planting trees. research funds on cost-effective means of in the future. desalination of seawater. Heather Wood, Bonnie Doon We would also need to know from where Many front-line scientific discoveries may we can beg, borrow, steal or hire a suitable Dear Editors, hold the answers we seek in the quest for treeseeder! desalinisation, such as magnetic resonance The philosophy of water story in the last Loretta Boland, Gundowring North and sonic vibration. It is research in new issue of Landcare quite succinctly captures science that will be most economically the thoughts of Professor David Mitchell. Dear Editors, effective in the medium to long term, in our His holistic approach to the subject of determination to provide real answers for our I was interested to read the recent article water management directs us to the ethical, children and our future. about the barking owl study in north-east ecological and economic aspects of this Victoria (Landcare, Autumn 2004). important issue. Marie Barrett, Sale
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 4 Salt tolerant timber trial success
A research trial at Undera in northern The trees, planted at a density of 2400 per healthy, they have dense leaf cover and Victoria is showing that Swamp Yate hectare, were irrigated over four irrigation show no signs of pest invasion or salt (Eucalyptus occidentalis) appears to seasons between 1996 and 2000 with scald,” Louise said. be tolerant to high watertables. groundwater pumped to the plantation River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) from about 600 metres away. The average According to DPI scientist Louise planted at the same site at the same time EC of the groundwater over the seasons Mann the eight-year trial is showing and similarly treated has not performed some pleasing results. was 9200 EC units. anywhere near as well. “Swamp Yate has grown well in soils of “The trees have performed very well “Drainage appears to be the key to success. up to 10,000 EC and is drought tolerant.” considering the site conditions. They are If left unirrigated, salt accumulation in the root zone can be expected to reduce timber production and probably tree health in the future,” Louise said. Drainage under the trees at the trial site was achieved with tile drains, but could also be provided by a nearby groundwater pump. Swamp Yate is a native of south-western WA. It is one of the hardest and straightest timbers in the world with no reported pests or diseases in Victoria. “In its natural environment Swamp Yate can tolerate hot (38oC), dry conditions as well as winter frosts and can be found growing in flooded alluvial flats, close to salt lakes and on clay soil,” Louise said. Swamp Yate can also provide a source of quality firewood and honey production as well as environmental benefits such as offering a windbreak for livestock and for erosion control. For further information on the project contact Louise Mann on 5833 5222.
Healthy Swamp Yate after eight years of salty conditions.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 5 Landcare Forum reconvenes
The Victorian Landcare Forum was as clarifying relationships and roles Melbourne would host an international reconvened in July with over 150 people between local Landcare and the CMAs. landcare conference in 2006. meeting to continue their conversations The forum gave participants an The proceedings from both the Bendigo about how to make community Landcare opportunity to discuss these opportunities and Melbourne sessions of the 2004 even stronger. The event followed on from with representatives from various agencies Victorian Landcare Forum are currently the success of the initial forum held in responsible for developing Landcare policy being put together and will be distributed Bendigo in June. and organisations involved in providing to participants in the near future. Statewide Landcare Facilitator Mark Landcare resources and supporting For more information contact Costello said that the energy, enthusiasm activities. Mark Costello on 5430 4526. and commitment demonstrated at the A plenary session at the end of the day forum shows that Landcare is alive and well. was also attended by the Minister for Environment, John Thwaites. “It was both encouraging and inspiring to see those involved in Landcare with Mr Thwaites closed the day’s proceedings What the participants said: different perspectives participating in and said that the Government’s Landcare priorities included maintaining the such constructive discussions,” Mark said. “It gave us a voice and the concept was movement’s grass-roots foundations, very effective. The idea of extracting The forum focused on 11 different linking sustainable farming with Landcare opportunities that had been identified individual’s suggestions/comments and and encouraging children to get involved. at Bendigo. These included partnerships then translating them into clear and and consultation with indigenous Mr Thwaites announced that the Bracks understandable proposals is quite communities, raising the profile of Government would invest $15.6 million effective.” Landcare, less red tape, junior Landcare, in the DSE Victorian Landcare Program “We built on the solid foundations Local Government and Landcare as well over the next three years and that and the residual excitement of the Bendigo forum. If you hang out with quality people, you can expect to have a quality day.” “Well focused, well organised…informal time is highly valued for conversations which develop our Landcare culture.” “Being able to listen, to find common ground and to find some agreed actions is a great outcome.”
A discussion on involving the indigenous community in Landcare at the forum.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 6 Should Landcare ? lobby By John Laing
One of the issues canvassed at the 2004 involvement are all things that we need Victorian Landcare Forum was politics. to be thinking about at a local level, but Does Landcare need to get political? I bet while your head is down planting Are Landcare principles an integral part trees, hoeing weeds and the like, you are of stakeholder decision-making processes? hoping somebody out there is beavering Have we got the rhetoric and the actions away dealing with these issues at a State aligned properly, or do we need to be more and national level. proactive in encouraging stakeholders to The Australian Landcare Council (ALC) think outside their own immediate area has a role to play in that it advises of concern? And how do we get action Australian Governments on Landcare on issues that concern Landcarers? issues. The ALC is justifiably proud of its When it comes to engagement of ability to deal with both sides of politics stakeholders in key planning and decision- and the fact that Landcare remains making processes organisations like the apolitical is a credit to them. But the ALC VFF, Environment Victoria, Victorian cannot and will not lobby. National Parks Association and major South Australia and Tasmania have agricultural industry groups including formed Landcare associations with a dairy, fruit and cropping all have peak John Laing reports back at the recent lobbying role. Does Victorian Landcare Victorian Landcare Forum. bodies to represent their particular need to go down this road? These issues viewpoint, but Landcare doesn’t. were discussed by a group of enthusiastic Is the State Government integrating and committed Landcarers at the Bendigo these actions is up to us to decide. If you actions in order to achieve multiple and Melbourne components of the recent have any ideas or thoughts, now is not benefits and the long-term goal of Victorian Landcare Forum. the time to be shy, your help is needed. sustainable communities? Can the peak A group of interested people was formed bodies that represent most of us be trusted For further information contact and have been communicating since the to think outside their square, or is that John Laing on 5826 5363. forum. Perhaps the main issue to be asking something of them that they tackled at the moment is whether this cannot deliver? ‘Landcare on the loose’ group can get Landcare is a unique community organised. Given that we are spread initiative, but with most people employed across the State with a mixed bag A discussion paper is in its infancy in Landcare support being attached to of communication skills and technology, and can be accessed by going to Government funding Landcare generally it will be a challenge. www.landcare.net.au does not have the independent voices The various discussion groups that formed Click the organisations tab and follow capable of speaking out on many issues. at the 2004 Victorian Landcare Forum the links through the ‘Landcare voice’ Issues like land clearing, indigenous will continue to progress actions relating section to the ‘your input is needed’ Landcare, red tape, junior Landcare, to their group’s issues. Whether we need part. Please give your input. corporate and Local Government a peak body to co-ordinate and integrate
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 7 A further history of direct seeding
I was interested to read the story in the Bonney’s encyclopedic knowledge of Kerry Reid. Kerry has over a decade last issue of the magazine on direct seeding native plants has enabled direct seeding of experience in direct seeding. He by Fergus Irving and keen to add some of an increasing diversity of plants. conceived, planned and managed the background knowledge. 800 hectares of direct seeding along It was the South Australians who had the Big Hill Range at Ravenswood. South Australians are the originators the vision of a new way to repair our of modern direct seeding. Most, if not ravaged land and the will to pursue it. When visiting Gippsland recently to all, of the designers and builders of the Their pioneering work inspired many talk about direct seeding he was met scalping type direct seeders were shown others, including myself, to adapt direct again with the response that it might the way by pioneer researchers such as seeding as our major revegetation tool. work where you are, but it won’t work Greg Dalton and Rod Burford. Greg That direct seeding is now the major here. Kerry Reid’s response is that plants Dalton is the author of Direct Seeding of revegetation method used in south-eastern have been growing from seed for hundreds Trees and Shrubs, a manual for Australian Australia is proof of the value of their of millions of years! conditions and Rod is responsible for the work and the debt owed to them all. Rodden 111 direct seeders. Acknowledging them is the least we The latest technology Both Greg Dalton and Rod Burford were can do. I for one dips me lid! One of the latest developments in members of a skilled and dedicated team direct seeding is the Burford type seeder. Dealing with the cynics of researchers and field practitioners who This is based on Rod Burford’s original provided the first key to large-scale low Most Australians who have heard of Rodden 111 design. cost revegetation. direct seeding fall mainly into two The Burford type seeders scalp, cultivate camps – those who know it won’t work Greening Australia SA jumped into direct and sow a diversity of seeds at a precise and those of us who grow millions of seeding when Neville Bonney joined. rate, at the correct depth and apply plants from direct seeding. Neville is a direct seeding practitioner, smoke water in one pass. the author of What Seed is That? and is To the first group I will repeat the words In collaboration with Rod Burford a teacher and mentor to many. Neville of my friend and direct seeding expert I recently constructed the machine pictured. It has three seed boxes. David Millsom with the latest version of the Rodden/Burford type seeder with modifications. This Two of the boxes have precision machine prepares a seedbed, sows seed at a precise rate and appropriate depth and applies acacia inoculant and smoke water in one pass. seeding mechanisms capable of accurate calibration of the seeding rate. The rear seed box is a tumbling drum for sowing grass and saltbush seed. The tank contains smoked water, sprayed on the seed and seedbed. The use of smoke water promotes germination and is now in common use by direct seeders throughout the Murray Darling Basin. Dr Kingsley Dixon and his team in Western Australia have now isolated the one chemical responsible for germination. The front hopper of the machine contains Wattle Grow inoculant. Acacia seed and inoculant are fed into the soil together. The use of inoculant can double the survival rate of acacia seedlings. Inoculated seedlings grow at two to five
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 8 (Don’t forget the South Australians!) By David Millsom
Rod Arnold of Mystic Park with a specialised mounding seeder for saline and/or waterlogged sites. Rod direct seeded 50 acres of saltbush with this machine in 2002.
times the rate of uninoculated seedlings. to minimise the cost of growing and David Millsom is a direct seeding Non-legume species gain increased planting. practitioner and adviser based at growth and vigour from the nitrogen. Pyramid Hill. For further information Direct seeding is the major revegetation contact David on 5455 7164. It is crucially important that local native tool in south-eastern Australia. It is species are used in direct seeding and that low cost, increasingly reliable and able their seeds are treated correctly to assist to revegetate on a scale impossible with and enable germination. Excellent weed nursery stock. Using specialised mounding Direct seeding on David Millsom's property at Mt Hope. This is a grazing paddock control is always required. seeders we are able to establish vegetation direct seeded in 1995/96 and grazed in saline soils that would kill nursery every year since. Why do we fund seedlings? stock. Publicly funded works such as Landcare The willingness of funding bodies to have a responsibility to use the most cost hand out public money to fund obsolete effective revegetation methods available and ineffective techniques is of ongoing and that is clearly direct seeding. concern to those of us who know there I believe that the use of 6-inch forestry is a better way. My view is that if you tubes is obsolete methodology and they are not direct seeding your revegetation should not be funded by the public purse. you are being a fool to yourself and a When seedlings are funded they should be burden to others – mainly the Australian grown in the smallest containers possible taxpayer.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 9 Direct seeding on the Coastal
Volunteers collect seed for the Wonthaggi seed bank.
Cape Paterson Coastal Plains Landcare Following the drying, sorting and weighing to successfully plant out on public land. (CPCPL) started seed collecting and processes it is then stored in a refrigerator. Other volunteers include a local golfer direct seeding back in 1998. We A database of seed collected has been who wants more exercise, people in public established a seed bank located in developed and this can be modified to working programs and, occasionally, Wonthaggi which is managed and run by provide a variety of information. overseas visitors. a volunteer subcommittee and supplies Volunteer seed collectors seed to three local Landcare groups. Education and planning Volunteers have fun collecting for the The seed bank functions from an unused seed bank. They learn on the job one Our Project Officer Geoff Trease who is shed in the town. Members have donated species at a time and it is marvellous to employed for half a day per week holds an igloo and refrigerator, purchased a small hear people confidently calling out the reins lightly and never stops teaching. amount of basic equipment, built benches the names of trees within a few weeks. The management committee decided and collected old bed frames – now used that if as many members as possible As part of their rehabilitation program as drying racks. learn as much as possible about all aspects people from the Mental Illness Fellowship of seed collecting, drying and storing, Seed is collected with permission from of Victoria collected seed for three years – landowners and with permits where a wonderful contribution to their local together with ground preparation, seed necessary. Upon collection it is recorded for community. This program continued with composition and distribution we could species, collection site, volume and date. tube stock propagation, which was used revegetate our entire area.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 10 Group News Plains – it works! By Beth Banks
Last year we started a planned approach recording their results and noting to education. A yearly planner showing what the different years have produced. Direct Seeding Field Day: species, seed sites and collection times is Last September’s direct seed sites have At Bill Berry’s property, Berry’s growing. We are careful not to miss species. been our most successful to date with Road Wonthaggi on 17 October This year we are low on acacia seed as they germination in all species and growth from 11am-3pm. Tour the seed popped unobserved. We have taken steps three times that of tube stock. bank, learn about seed collecting to avoid a repeat of this situation. It is clear to us that direct seeding is a and view the planting process. This successful method of revegetation but is a free event as we are keen to Future directions the landowners need assistance now with spread the word. Call 5672 2028 No formal research has been carried out research and development to fine tune the to make a booking. in this area but landowners have been process and perfect the winning formula.
Methodology Avoiding problems spring direct seed the site was covered with weeds and the consensus was a failed The site is given a number one haircut Soil types: It is important to recognise site. However, eleven months after the and sprayed with a broad-spectrum the different soil types on each site planting signs of germination are visible. herbicide. The site is fenced before or when making decisions on which A failure with seed germination may after ploughing (requiring an excellent species to use. occur if the seed is too old or it was operator) using a mouldboard plough or Dry season effects: The germination picked when it was too ripe. Rippa. Both methods, by turning the process becomes important during soil, provide the low nutrient seedbed Weeds: Our landowners are committed dry seasons. Eucalypts provide a good required for native seed germination. to maintaining the site weed free. It has The seedbed is also clear of weed seed. example. They germinate and set down been found that a minimum of 10 metres a tap root like a dart deep into the wide is required for a direct seed site and We use only indigenous seed. A minimum ground, while the root systems of some this has been found to be a successful of 12 species is desirable in any direct of the smaller understorey plants are width to maintain weed control. seed; however, the sky is the limit. In the fairly shallow and can struggle in a dry past we used 2 kg per hectare but recent season. Timing: Spring is successful and with our results have shown 1.5 kg per hectare to autumn trial underway and looking good be sufficient. Wet seasons: The seeds can drown or maybe weather conditions will play a wash away if the gradient on the furrow greater part in the future. The seed combination is mixed with a is very deep. bulking agent such as chicken crumble For further information contact and is distributed by people power. Success or failure? Six months after a Beth Banks on 5672 2028.
Mouldboard ploughed to perfection. The same site This site of 22 hectares was successfully direct seeded. two years later.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 11 Kamarooka project targets
Andy Hay at his property at Kamarooka explains the site layout to NUFG member Brian Smith as a storm builds overhead.
An innovative farming project was farmer and beneficial for the environment “Getting the plants in the ground is our launched on the northern plains in to have trees and shrubs working for you priority over the next few months. After July. The project has been designed to in low-rainfall farming systems. that there will be site management, demonstrate that perennial plantings monitoring and down the track NUFG According to Milloo farmer and hold the key to the future viability of members will form prune and thin the NUFG President Ian Rankin the project salt-affected land. trees earmarked for high value wood draws on significant local expertise and products,” Ian Rankin said. The 40-hectare demonstration project demonstrates the strong partnerships is being established on the Hay family that exist in fostering innovative natural The project will provide important local property at Kamarooka, between Raywood resource management in the region. information on the economics of growing and Elmore. The site has been prepared The North Central CMA has joined hardwood species on the northern plains, for planting, a groundwater bore network the project to provide expertise in both in terms of returns for wood products has been installed, and 15,000 plants are restoring a patch of remnant native and integrating tree growing into an being established this spring. vegetation adjacent to the site. existing cropping and grazing enterprise for environmental rewards. Funded by the Federal Natural Resources “The grant recognises that NUFG is Innovation Grants Program, the project willing to share its collective expertise The project enjoys strong support from is an initiative of the Northern United with the local farming community to the Hay family, the North Central CMA, Government agencies, local Forestry Group (NUFG), which is made demonstrate that we don’t have to abandon salt-affected land. Perennial Governments, the East Loddon P-12 up of 36 families from the farming salt-tolerant fodder shrubs along with school and local Landcare groups community north of Bendigo. the right mix of low-rainfall agroforestry including Kamarooka Landcare Group The project builds on the group’s species is a viable management option and the Bendigo Creek Floodplain Group, philosophy that it can be profitable for the on the northern plains. as well as the Federal Department of
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 12 Research Results salinity By Mal Brown
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries who provided the funding. “We know there is a strong interest in growing trees for a range of benefits and the Northern United Forestry Group is keen to take a leadership role in providing access to a broad range of information, particularly local research results. The Kamarooka project will help us to do this,” Ian Rankin said. For further information contact Ian Rankin on 5488 2271.
From left, Ian MacBean from the North Central CMA, Dr Sharman Stone, Federal Member for Murray and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment and Heritage, and Ian Rankin at the launch of the Kamarooka project.
The Kamarooka salinity story
Dryland salinity first became evident at A build up of hydraulic pressures at this balance could easily be redressed through Kamarooka in the mid-1950s. Prior to that point saw groundwater pressures rise and alternative farming systems that made time the watertable along the interface this ultimately realised saline groundwater greater use of the rainfall. between the weathered bedrock systems discharge at the land surface. Unfortunately, however, further research and the plains had been rising in response Changes in hydraulic conditions that revealed that the groundwater system was to the clearing of native vegetation and realised salinity at Kamarooka were fuelled so sluggish that even if the original water the development of agriculture. by a remarkably small change in the water balance under native vegetation was The change in land use created an balance. Indeed, the current area of restored several decades would be required increase in runoff and an increase groundwater discharge is easily accounted before the existing hydraulic conditions in the volume of rainfall reaching the for by an increase in groundwater recharge would be overturned to the point where groundwater system. The increase in (rainfall reaching the groundwater system) any tangible salinity benefits would be the volume of groundwater flow out of of just 20 millimetres per year throughout realised. the bedrock system was beyond that the catchment. This is only about 5% of Sustained salinity and groundwater which could be accommodated by the the average annual rainfall. discharge after some eight years of low hydraulic barrier at the break of slope This small increment in the water balance rainfall and little or no recharge to coinciding with the juncture with the causing salinity was seen, several years groundwater provides very strong Riverine Plains. ago, as good news because it seemed at the supporting evidence for this condition. time that the aberration in the water
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 13 Catchment Management Port Phillip and Westernport Landcare
Community Landcare volunteers from across the Port Phillip and Westernport region gathered at the Melbourne Museum in July for the Regional Landcare Awards presentation and celebration. More than 250 adults and children attended the function, which was held to express appreciation for the efforts and achievements of the many volunteers to improve the region’s natural environment. The theme for the inaugural awards was ‘Caring for Land, Water and Wildlife’. Popular Australian actor John Wood presented the framed award certificates and a voucher for $300 to the winners of each of the 10 award categories. The awards provided a great opportunity to recognise outstanding volunteer efforts and showcase leading examples of volunteer-driven sustainable natural resource management.
Fast results at Frog Hollow Friends of Frog Hollow volunteers hard at work. Friends of Frog Hollow won the Community Group Caring for Public Land award. Although the group has been in Work at the site has been guided by mulch, raising tubestock, releasing gorse existence for just 18 months its efforts to a masterplan prepared by the City of spider mites, installing nesting boxes and rehabilitate a natural floodplain and Casey. As well as on-ground works, the platypus surveys. wetland in the Melbourne suburb of group has also been active in the wider Endeavour Hills have been inspiring. The school has developed a strong community through newsletters, an partnership with the Upper Maribyrnong The group’s 50 members, with assistance information leaflet, newspaper articles Catchment Group. Students from the from other local volunteers, have planted and guided tours. school have also made platypus more than 15,000 indigenous plants and presentations to other primary schools and spread more than 1200 cubic metres of School rewarded for years of effort the River Health Conference. mulch at the Frog Hollow Reserve. Darraweit Guim Primary School won Principal Rob Rindzevicius said the award Group President Stephen Hallet said the the Youth Organisation Caring for was a recognition of many years of effort. site has been degraded through timber Land award. WACMAC works together harvesting, grazing and past agricultural This small rural school of just 45 students pursuits. has been involved in Landcare for the past WACMAC Landcare, incorporating the “We are trying to put back what was 11 years. They have been involved in Whittlesea Agricultural Society, Arthur's taken,” Stephen said. creating a bush tucker garden, trialling Creek District Landcare Group, Merriang
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 14 Awards
Landcare Group and Cottles Bridge Landcare Group, won the Community Group Caring for Private Land award. WACMAC’s partners include The Centre, a community education provider, with whom it has pooled resources and expertise to provide a range of education opportunities for landholders in Melbourne's northern rural fringe. Community education events on salinity, erosion, sustainable land management, Students from Darraweit Guim Primary School with Geoff Williams from the Australian Platypus farm dam failure, revegetation, weed Conservancy releasing a trapped and assessed platypus back into Deep Creek. control, waterway protection, farm forestry and property management planning have Launch of success stories booklet been well received in the area. Award winners The awards was also the venue for the Each of the regional award winners will be launch of a new booklet Stories of Individual Caring for Public Land nominated in the corresponding category community Landcare success: Port Phillip Kaye Proudley. Friends of Belvedere at the Victorian Landcare Awards in 2005. and Westernport Region 2004. The booklet Bushland Reserve. According to Regional Landcare Co- is a compilation of 53 success stories as Individual Caring for Private Land ordinator Doug Evans the awards function told in the words of the groups that Irene Pearey. Macclesfield Landcare gave everybody an opportunity to connect contributed them. Group. with others doing similar things across the According to Doug Evans the booklet region. provides a snapshot of community Caring for Waterways Kananook Creek Association. “It was also a way of saying thanks and Landcare activity in the region. giving a bit of recognition and “Stories of community Landcare success Caring for Biodiversity acknowledgment to all the volunteers and illustrates the diverse nature of the Mullum Mullum Bushcare Group. groups involved,” he said. region’s groups, the activities they Primary Producer Caring for Land undertake and the issues they address. Bob and Anne Davie, Phillip Island. Hopefully these stories will inspire, motivate and build the confidence of Local Government Caring for Land groups and individuals to achieve further Melton Shire Council. success in their efforts at caring for land, Youth Organisation Caring for Land water and wildlife,” Doug Evans said. Darraweit Guim Primary School.
Community Group Caring for Public Land Friends of Frog Hollow.
Community Group Preparing for Private Land WACMAC Landcare.
Caring for Community Groups Leon Costermans. Frankston Leon Costermans receiving his Landcare Environmental Friends Network. award from actor John Wood.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 15 “These plants are cool”
By Steve Meacher Once again the Natural Resources Conservation League (NRCL) has successfully co-ordinated Arbor Week with thousands of indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses planted at several sites around the State during May. The week’s activities were launched at Healesville Primary School when Wurundjeri elder Joy Murphy Wandin extended an Aboriginal welcome to the land. Healesville Primary School suffered a major fire several years ago and is now nearing the end of a prolonged period of rebuilding. Like a forest of eucalypts, it had regrown out of the ashes and was ready to replace some of the plants lost during the fire. Almost 400 students participated in the day’s activities, including representatives of other schools in the local cluster. The NRCL provided over 1400 indigenous seedlings including 12 black Learning how to use the Hamilton Tree Planter. she-oaks to be planted in memory of Sir Rupert Hamer, the former Victorian Premier and patron of NRCL. they will develop into magnificent gardens School visiting Toolangi State Forest to to be enjoyed and utilised by students, plant out 1100 seedlings, Birmingham The planting activities were supervised teachers and local wildlife. Primary School in Lilydale had a day of by members of Healesville Environment planting led by Greening Australia and Watch, Greening Australia and the Green In addition to the plantings the children plantings also took place at Bentleigh Corps. By the time the school rebuilding were kept productively and enjoyably West Primary School and Sunshine program is complete the new plants will occupied throughout the day with Heights Primary School. be well established and in years to come terracotta pot decorating provided by Bunnings, campfire safety (DSE), Earth The Royal Botanic Garden at Cranbourne education (Greening Australia and The commenced a major new planting of Shire of Yarra Ranges), living water 39,000 plants over 24 weeks and Students planting out at activities (Gould League), animals and Brimbank City Council conducted the Healesville Primary School. habitats (Healesville Sanctuary) and an first of 25 planned planting days. In north- Earth walk (Vox Bandicoot). east Victoria tours of areas ravaged by the 2002/03 fires were conducted by the Fire At the end of a very active, productive Recovery Education staff of the DSE. and enjoyable day each child left with a native shrub to take home, to encourage Planning for Arbor Week 2005 is already them to practise their new skills in their underway, with exciting ideas to get even own gardens. One comment overheard as more schools and communities involved children left was, “These plants are cool!” across the State. Other activities at schools during the For further information contact week included Launching Place Primary Steve Meacher on 5962 9314.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 16 In brief
Efficient irrigation workshops The DPI Water for Growth program is offering irrigation management courses for landholders in the North East and Goulburn Broken (dryland) catchments. The catchment resources caravan available for loan to schools in the Corangamite catchment. The course provides both theory and field practice to give confidence to landholders in applying efficient irrigation practices to their situation, in particular stream water. The resource is aimed at both The work of the Alliance has involved flow management areas. Past landholders primary and secondary level students. a high level of dedication and skill. have reported savings in time, money, More on this inspiring story in the Schools within the Corangamite maintenance, labour, feed, water and next issue. catchment are encouraged to borrow environmental improvements after this mobile resource. Contact the completing the course. Take the Tree Totaller challenge Victorian Landcare Centre on Limited rebates are also available to assist 5345 2200 for further details. A new internet-based greenhouse irrigators in purchasing soil moisture calculator was launched in Melbourne monitoring equipment, converting flood Bogong High Plains Alliance during June. Developed by not for profit irrigation systems to pressure irrigation organisation Greenfleet Australia, the The ferocity of the fires on top of over systems, improved efficiencies in flood Tree Totaller will calculate the annual 100 years of grazing left the fragile alpine irrigation and the development of an greenhouse emissions from cars, air mossbeds in a critical state. irrigation drainage and environmental travel and home/office energy use. plan. In 2003 the Bogong High Plains Alliance Individuals and organisations then have successfully obtained grants to rehabilitate For further information contact the an opportunity to offset (or neutralise) and restore some important mossbeds on DPI Ovens office on 5731 1222. all or part of their greenhouse emissions the burnt high plains. This work started through Greenfleet’s national tree last summer (2004) and will continue Catch the catchment caravan planting program. All payments are this summer. To assist teachers in taking on units tax-deductible. Members of the Alliance used techniques of work with an environmental focus One of Australia’s top scientists, developed over the past 15 years. a catchment caravan is available for Dr Graeme Pearman, says the calculator Rehabilitation techniques which are both loan through the Victorian Landcare helps identify for each individual or economical and effective have been Centre at Creswick. household just how much they are developed through previous works at the contributing to the problem, where the This free resource comprises numerous Rocky Valley Pinch Pit (near the Falls major emissions come from in their daily tubs full of books, both fiction and Creek ski resort) where 10 years of effort lives and what options they have available non-fiction, teacher resources, maps has transformed a lunar landscape into a and equipment useful for running lessons to play a personal part in the challenge functioning alpine ecosystem and on the both in and outside of the classroom. of emissions reductions. Wellington Plains where research and Materials are provided on flora and fauna, restoration work on mossbeds occurred To calculate your emissions visit land and soil, issues and threats, and after the 1998 Caledonia fires. www.greenfleet.com.au
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 17 TreeProject spreads the seed
Group from the city to the bush News By De Gregner
TreeProject is a non-profit organisation that co-ordinates the activities of hundreds of urban volunteers who grow seedlings and plant trees for landholders. The service has been in operation for 15 years and has played an important role in bringing the rural and urban community together to restore native vegetation in Victoria. According to Karoline Kline from the North Harcourt/Sedgewick Landcare Group TreeProject’s volunteer growers are making the job of getting trees back on to bare paddocks much easier for local landholders. Karoline and her husband Peter moved out to the countryside a couple of years ago. They immediately joined the local Landcare group who gave them a TreeProject order form. “Our lives are very busy so any help is useful. TreeProject were able to provide us with a great number of local provenance indigenous seedlings at low cost,” Karoline said. According to Karoline the seedlings were of very good quality. The Landcare group TreeProject volunteer Celia McKenzie helps landholder Peter Kline plant some seedlings. ordered 3400 seedlings made up of 21 different indigenous species. The seedlings TreeProject has an important social were grown by 10 TreeProject volunteer Volunteer work allows TreeProject to growers and plants were distributed to 15 role. Contacts between rural and urban subsidise the cost of seedling Landcare group members. people are forged and friendships and propagation and pass these savings on understandings are reached. to the landholder. Five hundred “When the seedlings were ready,” said seedlings costs $125 plus $20 for local Karoline Kline said the whole experience Karoline, “TreeProject volunteer growers provenance indigenous seed if you do was positive. Andrew and Celia McKenzie made their not supply your own. Orders for next way up from Melbourne to help plant the “I'd like to extend my thanks to the year’s planting season will be accepted trees on our property. Since then good TreeProject volunteers. Their help was up until the end of October. rain has fallen so they got a perfect start.” invaluable and the organisation of the To obtain an order form visit the Apart from the environmental, economic group is impressive. We’ll certainly be website at www.treeproject.asn.au or and aesthetic benefits the trees will bring, back for more.” contact TreeProject on 9650 9477.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 18 The Rossers look back
By Margrit Beemster on the fires
The photographs of blackened farmland, from stress and there were problems with burnt bush and smoke-filled skies seem calves later on. far removed from the healthy regrowth, Both Wiltshire Horn rams were burnt green winter paddocks and recovering and one had to be put down the following bushland. day on the advice of Trevor Makim from “It’s difficult to look back,” admits Barbara DPI. Rosser as she and her husband Ian show “Trevor was excellent. We discussed pictures of the damage caused by the our options with him, which included bushfires in January last year. getting rid of excess sheep as we didn’t But the Rossers have moved on. They have any feed. He was also able to link have cleaned up much of the debris left us up with the emergency fodder provided by the fire that burnt out nearly all by the VFF so we had feed for the cattle,” their land and 8 kilometres of fencing, Ian says. and taken up the Government offer With DPI funding Ian has put in a of financial assistance to build 3.5 1200-metre wild dog fence along the kilometres of wild dog fences. bottom of the property. Care of Remnant Today their 80-hectare organic farm – a Incentive Scheme funding helped with non-hybrid seed business in the Buckland a further 800-metre fence built off Valley – is recovering from the fire that the boundary to protect ferny gullies came perilously close to their home. to the south. When you consider the Rossers property is “Without financial help we would never ringed by Mt Buffalo National Park and is have been able to do it,” says Ian who has set in heavy timber country the fact that been fencing almost constantly for the their house and outbuildings escaped past 18 months. damage could be deemed miraculous. Rotary also helped with money that went However, the Rossers had done their towards building internal fences and homework. They built and positioned buying stock feed. their mud brick house 19 years ago with the aim of making it as fire-safe “We’re not the kind to ask for help, as possible. They sited a dam to the particularly when there were others much south-west, put sprinklers on the roof worse off than we were but every bit that Ian and Barbara Rosser outside their mud and planted deciduous trees around came we have really appreciated,” says Ian. brick house. The house survived the fire but the farm suffered extensive damage. the house. A DPI agronomic adviser has also come At the time the fires hit, Ian, Barbara and out to the farm and done a soil test and youngest son Adam were on their own. there is help for whole farm planning. An agreement has been reached with “We had done all our fire prevention work DPI for assistance with weed control even and felt we would be safe,” says Barbara. though, as organic farmers, the Rossers While they lost none of their cattle the intend to use alternative methods to cows that were in calf at the time suffered chemical spraying.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 19 Fire safety and the
By Helen Bull
Rather than removing fine fuels near waterways consider how you could isolate the fire hazard from the assets you are aiming to protect.
Wildfire safety is a concern for most Protecting your house than six millimetres in diameter) that rural Victorians. So is protecting the contribute most to fire intensity and In a wildfire, embers from burning bark, environment we live in. Achieving both speed. Reducing fine fuel loads or grass, twigs or leaves may land and ignite objectives can, at times, be challenging. constructing well-designed firebreaks may new fires before the main fire front However, with good planning it is help to protect your assets from an intense reaches your house. Research has shown generally possible to achieve both. fire. However, remember that vegetation that houses burn down mainly because of management alone is not enough to assist This article identifies some of the embers. So focus on this first. in house survival as ember attack may last things that you can do to help protect Even minor changes to houses will greatly many hours after a fire has passed and environmental assets on your property, improve their chances of surviving a fire. many homes are lost during this period. while protecting yourself, your family and Identify what you can do to protect your your property from the effects of wildfire. assets from ember attack. In particular, make sure that embers cannot enter the Develop a plan Protect trees with hollows by house, the ceiling cavity or the underfloor reducing fine fuels around them. The CFA’s Living in the Bush Bushfire area. Being there to put out embers will Survival Plan Workbook can help you also greatly improve the chance of house design a fire safety plan that suits the survival. needs of your family and your property. Use this workbook to design more Property design environmentally friendly ways of Fires generally travel under a north- managing your fire safety. westerly wind (or after a change, from Identify the environmental assets that the south-west). Design your property to you would like to protect from fire or fuel locate low fuel areas such as driveways, reduction. These may include waterways, pools or heavily grazed paddocks to the erodable soils, shrubs that provide north and west of your house and other screening or bird habitats, hollow trees assets you want to protect, such as sheds that provide nesting sites, rare species or or valuable stock. Ensure good access to bushland that you have regenerated. water for firefighting. It may not always be possible to protect Reduce fine fuels these assets, but by including them in your planning you may be able to find other All vegetation provides fuel for a fire. ways of dealing with fire safety issues. However, it is the fine fuels (those less
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 20 environment By Helen Bull
Environmentally sensitive fire safety tips
•Check with your local council to make isolate the fire hazard from the assets sure you understand any council you are aiming to protect. controls on the clearance of native •Reduce fine fuels around trees to vegetation. reduce the risk of fires burning into •You must always obtain the permission the crowns and creation of embers. of the road manager (either council •Minimise disturbance to the soil. or VicRoads) for any management Graded or ploughed breaks can works, including fire management or revegetation on roadsides. This will encourage weed growth and cause enable the fire manager to consider soil erosion. Consider other ways both strategic fire safety and of creating low-fuel areas such as environmental issues. grazing, slashing or burning. •Will your fuel reduction be effective •Protect hollow trees and logs. These in slowing or stopping a fire? If it are important habitats for many species won't, it may be causing unnecessary and if they burn can create problems for environmental disturbance. For firefighters. Plan your fuel reduction to example, slashing or ploughing a break minimise the chance of them catching between trees is unlikely to be effective fire. If placing logs for habitats, locate in slowing a fire except in very low fire them away from firebreaks or potential danger conditions and may only fire control lines. damage the trees. •Weeds often have high fuel loads and •Design any new shelterbelts or broader can contribute significantly to fire plantings or revegetation with fire risks. Remove these first. Do not plant protection in mind. Shelterbelts may species which are environmental weeds. help protect assets from wildfire by •Do not rely upon plants being ‘fire reducing wind speeds and filtering retardant’. In high intensity fires all embers. Good design and maintenance plants will burn. is critical. Break up your plantings to ensure you don’t create a wick of fuel •Learn more about the fire needs of that may funnel a fire towards assets. your vegetation. Australian vegetation Plan access for firefighters and carry has evolved with fire and most is out grass control after planting. Seek dependent upon fire (or similar the advice of your Municipal Fire disturbance) for regeneration and Prevention Officer if you are planning maintenance of biodiversity. By burning to plant or revegetate extensive areas. in appropriate cycles you can obtain both fuel reduction and ecological •Protect streamside vegetation and benefits. The DSE website provides wetlands to help protect water quality some information on this topic. and habitat. These sites may be damp and may not present a fire hazard. If you have any additional ideas or If fuel levels are of concern, rather examples you would like to share with than fuel-reducing in the streamside or others contact Helen Bull at the CFA wetland zone, consider how you could on 9262 8452. Neil Paulet’s year
There is a constant weariness about Tallangatta Valley farmer Neil Paulet. The weariness is understandable when you consider the workload and the pressures he has been under since his property was burnt out in last January’s bushfires. Like other farmers in the valley, he had about two weeks to prepare for the fire which came within 50 metres of his house after it had swung round to the west following a wind change. Neil’s wife Janice and children James and John were away in Gippsland when the fire struck. Even with some friends to help and the fire pump handy there was nothing he could do to prevent his fences and pastures from being burnt. Around 15 kilometres of fencing including internal fences were either burnt or disabled in some way. “It was a lot of hard work to get the fences up in the first place,” says Neil who bought the unimproved farm with Janice in 1988 to run goats and cattle. “I’d been chipping away at it for years.” Neil had about 100 hectares of pasture burnt in the fire and lost much of his bush country where he had grazed his goats. Before the fire he ran a herd of 450 Cashmere-Boers crosses. Now the herd is down to 120. “When the bush got burnt out I sold a lot and the wild dogs got the rest,” says Neil who has had assistance under the DPI Bushfire Recovery Program to replace about 2 kilometres of electric wild dog fence where his property borders Crown land.
Neil Paulet with new fencing on his Tallangatta Valley property. of fencing By Margrit Beemster
He is hoping to receive some financial assistance to replace and repair electric fencing on boundaries that aren’t adjacent to Crown land under the Land Protection Incentive Scheme. Neil also hopes to receive financial assistance from the Care of Remnant Incentive Scheme for some boundary fencing he has replaced to exclude some country from grazing. Other assistance includes help from DSE with repairing bulldozer containment lines, cleaning up boundaries and assistance with freight costs for feed. Under the Bushfire Environmental Recovery Program two dams which filled with silt in the rains after the fires have been cleaned out and funding has been provided for replacement trees and fencing on Tallangatta Creek. DPI has provided an agronomist to do a soil test and Neil has applied for a weed control grant and plans to do an enterprise analysis. Towong Shire arranged two Conservation Volunteers Australia The Paulets ran over 400 goats on their property before the fires. Now they are down to 120. team visits to help with fencing, there's been a voucher from the Country Women’s Association, and a Bushfire Recovery Grant. all of the assistance has been welcome. While Neil is grateful for the financial He intends to use any further financial assistance he has received he says there Towong’s sister city, Manningham City assistance to bring in a spraying contractor is a number of local people who missed Council and Tallangatta Rotary also to spray his blackberries. out on assistance because their properties spent a day fencing as well as donating weren’t directly affected by fire. some posts. “I haven’t had time to do the normal work on the farm for two years,” says Neil. “Some of those people lost far more “A few special people really put money in terms of lost income than themselves out for us too,” says Neil. Most of his time has been spent replacing others who were more directly affected. and repairing fences and cleaning up the Some of his neighbours helped to repair They were supporting the firefighting damage from the fire. He had to give up a boundary fences on their own initiative effort 12 hours a day for four to six part-time job as Landcare co-ordinator for which was really appreciated. weeks. the Wise’s Creek and Talgarno Landcare Neil says there has been a lot of extra bills Groups due to the extra work on the farm “We can never thank the people who and indirect costs because of the fires so as a result of the fires and the drought. helped us enough.”
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 23 Freecall 1800 643 384
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S u m m e r 2 0 0 5 3 E U S S
Victorian I andcareandcare LL & CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT
Restoring our mosslands
Horses and Landcare
Good Neighbour success Editorial contributions Carrie Tiffany, Tiffany and Associates CONTENTS 1 Lane Street, Blackburn North 3130 CONTENTS Phone 9894 2169 Fax 9894 2515 E-mail: [email protected]
Mailing list enquiries SMARTimbers Kids teach kids Beverley Wallace, Victorian Farmers field day in the Wimmera Federation, Phone 9207 5527 Fax 9207 5500 8-9 14-15 E-mail: [email protected]
Advertising Paul Crock Rabbit Free Meadow Creek Phone 0418 377 264 Fax 9428 4676 in the north-east study 19 22-23 Cover photograph: Horses in summer grass Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management is published for the Victorian Landcare by Andrew Chapman. community by the Victorian Farmers Federation in partnership with the Department While every effort has been made to of Sustainability and Environment, Alcoa World Alumina Australia and the Victorian ensure the accuracy of statements in Catchment Management Council. Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Magazine the Victorian Farmers Federation, its partners, agents, servants, and contractors disclaim all responsibility for the statements quoted herein. Letters
Dear Editors, I refer to ‘A further history of direct seeding,’ in Victorian Landcare (Spring 2004). I am not disputing that direct seeding is more cost-effective than planting out tubestock. However, not all of us, whether it be individuals or Landcare groups, have access to such machinery; neither is there access to many areas with any machinery at all. We have about 3000 trees planted on our property, a number that began as zero some four years ago and is steadily increasing. We have planted them all ourselves, with help from family members, but – horror of horrors, we received fifty percent funding for 400 of these. Since they were planted as tubestock, and plastic guarded against rabbits, kangaroos and strong winds, should we feel foolish? Should we not have planted any, as direct seeding wasn’t readily available to us? Cost effective maybe not, but foolish? I don’t think so. S. Roxburgh Miners Rest
Tubestock or direct seeding. The debate continues. From the editors
We hope you enjoy this issue of Victorian consider putting us on the mailing list as Landcare – hopefully while having a well- we often follow up stories that we think earned summer break with family and may have a broader interest. friends. Farewell, Mark Costello In this issue you’ll find some interesting stories. We look at the challenge of Many people will be sorry to learn that keeping horse pastures healthy, how the Mark Costello, DSE’s Statewide Landcare humble Sugar Gum is being recast as Co-ordinator based in Bendigo, has fashionable furniture timber as well as recently resigned his position. many updates from Landcare groups Mark has been with Landcare in head across the State. office and the regions for many years One of the great things about editing this and his enthusiasm and commitment magazine is getting to read all of your have been noticed by all who have Mark Costello has championed Landcare Landcare group and network newsletters. worked with him. during his time as Victoria’s Statewide Landcare Co-ordinator. Good communication is vital to the future Mark was responsible for the very of Landcare and the quantity and quality successful Victorian Landcare Forum of these newsletters is impressive – held last year in Bendigo and Melbourne. especially considering that many of them He had a vision for Landcare as a true are put together by volunteers on the grass-roots community organisation and to travel overseas and also sees some kitchen table. lobbied tirelessly for resources and support. study on the horizon. We wish him well with all of his future endeavours. Please keep your newsletters coming. If we Keen to have a break from the demands are not currently receiving your newsletter of the public service, Mark is planning Carrie Tiffany and Joanne Green
Best letter
We received several brief letters for this issue. An unidentified correspondent from the Gannawarra Shire Council area has raised the issue of cats and the environment. Urban people bringing their domestic cats to rural properties are raising the ire of locals who consider them as damaging to the environment as feral cats. If you have anything to share on this subject please feel free to write a letter or contribute an article. Also one of our readers is concerned about tree guards. She heard some discussion at the Elmore Field Days last year on the problems with tree guards ‘cooking’ seedlings and young plants over the summer. Victorian Landcare is not in a position to recommend one type of tree guard over another, but our readers are welcome to share their knowledge on this subject. The prize for the best letter in this issue goes to S. Roxburgh of Miners Rest. A copy of Mem Fox’s latest children’s book, Where is the Green Sheep? will be sent out shortly. A new book is now up for grabs so send your letters to Carrie Tiffany (address on page 2) by Friday 18 February 2005. Letters must include a name, address and telephone number and be less than 300 words. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 3 Greenfleet seeks land for trees Scouts provide the people power for Murray Darling Rescue, Greenfleet's largest tree-planting project.
Greenfleet Australia is seeking sites across On suitable sites Greenfleet provides the If you know of land that might be suitable Victoria that landholders have earmarked trees as well as the labour and equipment please contact Greenfleet on 5664 2220 or for revegetation. to plant them. Greenfleet enters into a email [email protected] carbon agreement with the landholder, According to Greenfleet forester which specifies that the trees will not be Jackie Waring, a growing number of harvested and that Greenfleet maintains Victorian organisations are subscribing How Greenfleet works to the program and Greenfleet is keen to the right to count the carbon soaked up by identify additional sites. those trees during their lifetime – and so For $40 a year (tax deductible) assure that forest sinks are established on Greenfleet plants 17 native trees “We are looking for ten hectares or behalf of motorists. on the motorist’s behalf. Over more on public or private land for their lifetime, those trees will soak large-scale plantings next year,” she said. According to Greenfleet, transport is Australia’s fastest-growing source of up the greenhouse emissions that Greenfleet is a Victorian-based greenhouse emissions, the primary cause the average car produces in one 2 organisation with a national program of climate change and global warming. year (based on 4.3 tonnes of CO ). to reduce the impact of transport on Individual motorists and organisations the environment. So far, over 1.7 million “In addition to absorbing greenhouse are invited to subscribe to Greenfleet’s trees have been planted on behalf of gases, the forests also help to reduce program – for more information go to individual motorists and fleets to help salinity and soil erosion, and provide www.greenfleet.com.au neutralise greenhouse gas emissions wildlife habitat for native species,” (CO2) from vehicles. Jackie Waring said. Gorse in the spotlight Group at Purnim News
By Keith Davis
Controlling gorse is a challenging exercise, but the Moyne Weed Eradication Network has responded with an integrated program of gorse control works in conjunction with DPI around the Warrnambool area. To highlight the best management practices for integrated control of gorse the Moyne Weed Eradication Network held a Gorse Control Field Day at Purnim, north of Warrnambool. The event was well attended with around 40 people including local landholders, CFA brigade members, Landcare groups, Moyne Shire, VicRoads and TAFE Natural Resource Management students coming along. Ben Foster, Regional Manager for Dow Agro Sciences, gave a talk on the different chemical treatment trials that were set up especially for the field day. There was a demonstration of mechanical control using an excavator with grab attachment, and information on chemical treatment methods and costs from local contractors. Mechanical options for gorse control are demonstrated at the Purnim field day. Dave Warne from Greening Australia gave a presentation on planning integrated gorse and weed control to get DPI Catchment Officer Mark Doueal “Gorse is not a once-a-year job, it is the best results for revegetation projects. said the field day was an excellent forum something landholders need a strategy to learn about the gorse problem. for over several years.” Tania Parker, Glenelg Hopkins CMA Lower Hopkins Basin Project Co- “People were able to work out the best The Moyne Weed Eradication Network is ordinator, outlined opportunities for options for their properties and to think determined to continue its work of tackling revegetation funding support for about how the different tools – such the prickly problem of gorse head on. landholders following an integrated as spraying and mechanical removal – Further control works are planned for the program of gorse control. can be used together. Lower Hopkins area in the months ahead.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 5 Mt William wins Group battle of the rabbits News
By John Robinson
In 1996 an 11-square-kilometre area near Mt William, east of Lancefield in the Upper Maribyrnong Catchment, was identified as being one of the worst rabbit plague areas in Australia. Local landholders succeeded in having the area chosen as a Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) virus release point and obtained initial funding for a three-year rabbit management project. Now, after more than eight years, the rabbit count is down from an average of over 77 in 1996 (with over 120 recorded in one half-kilometre section) to less than two rabbits per spotlight kilometre. According to John Blamey, Facilitator of the Mt William Rabbit Action Group, the initial spotlight counts were like looking at a moving sea of grey fur. “There was embarrassment amongst some farmers who got lost on their Gary Talbot guides the bulldozer. own land when fog rolled in during one of the spotlight counts,” John said. The Mt William Rabbit Action Group’s strategy has been to create a rabbit-hostile using a combination of strategies successful it had to be a community effort, environment. This has been achieved by including controlled release of RCD, with a high level of co-operation warren ripping, baiting, fumigation, from all landholders within the harbour removal and shooting control area. co-operatively across all the properties “Some of the locals estimate that Bracken removal on the eastern side in the control area. of the Mt William Range. their holding capacity has tripled and The rabbit-hostile environment that was there has been an observable increase in established in the paddocks of landholders natural regeneration of indigenous flora. caused an increase in rabbits along the “Landholders in this area are now roadsides. To tackle this problem roadside better positioned to keep rabbit numbers surface harbour was targeted through low than at any time since myxo was blackberry spraying and removal. introduced, all it needs is vigilance and Contractors with heavy machinery were persistence.” brought in to rip the roadside warrens. For further information contact John Blamey said that for the project to be John Robinson on 5429 9629.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 6 Strawberry growers Catchment Management
embrace Landcare By Ian Linley
Around a third of Australia’s strawberries DPI identified that practices that manage The project was supported by National are produced in Victoria’s Port Phillip and water once it has left the cropped area Landcare Program funding. In the next Westernport CMA region. While not a were less widely implemented. phase the strawberry industry is looking traditional ‘Landcare group’ the industry to implement and demonstrate aspects of Using whole farm planning processes has recently embraced Landcare principles the action plans and also to recruit new common to Landcarers in many other in developing productive and sustainable growers into the action planning stage. farming industries, action plans for farming practices. onground works are under development For further information contact Ian Linley The optimum growing conditions for on ten pilot properties. Information from on 0428 330 122. strawberries require intensive use of soil, the pilot program will be distributed water and nutrients. The potential for throughout the strawberry industry via farm soil loss and nutrient runoff is high and walks, published property management and the industry, with the support of the action plans, industry fact sheets and a Port Phillip and Westernport CMA, strawberry industry field day. DPI Project Officer Mark Hincksman was keen to address these issues. Strawberry growers participating in with grower Eddie Di Pietro examining aerial photos and action plans. Best management practices such as deep the project have indicated that the ripping, green manure cropping, grassing activities undertaken will complement between rows, drip irrigation and soil and their QA processes and have opened up sap testing are implemented by many opportunities for activities such as use strawberry producers, but the Victorian of aquatic plant species in drainage lines Strawberry Growers Association who are and incorporating native vegetation to John Laing reports back at the recent members of the VFF, Victorian Strawberry mop up wet areas and provide wind Victorian Landcare Forum. Industry Development Committee and protection and spray drift control.
A strawberry farm at Yellingbo showing best practice use of grasses to better manage runoff and riparian revegetation for habitat and crop production benefits.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 7 SMARTimbers
By Andrew Lang success with
A recent field day near Lismore in the Sugar Gum plantations in Victoria. the template for the development of Western District saw over 80 people The trees along Titanga’s Hamilton other co-operative members’ farm investigating the value-adding activities Highway frontage were sown in 1888, as forestry management plans. of the three-year-old SMARTimbers were the trees harvested from plantations co-operative. at the site in 2003 and 2004. Stock levels increasing SMARTimbers (standing for Sustainably Sugar Gum was originally sown as part The SMARTimbers co-operative, its Managed Australian Regional Timbers) of a mix of over 20 species. Within a members and allied mills have now built has been focusing on adding value to few years the landowners involved up a stock level of about 200 tonnes of plantation timber. The field day showed were impressed by the rapid growth milled Sugar Gum, mostly in sizes suited how well the models of management, and dominance of the South Australian to decking and flooring, and at all points harvesting and value adding have native. By 1904 they were planting Sugar between green sawn and kiln dried. The developed towards a full-scale commercial Gum separate to the mix and soon after co-operative is also selling the timber as process. they were planting it exclusively. exterior and interior cladding, boardwalk decking, for cabinetry, stairtreads, overlay As well as harvesting on members’ Titanga is on the way to becoming a flooring, bench tops and as veneer. properties, the SMARTimbers good example of integrated farm forestry. co-operative is currently buying good The property has about 15% tree cover, The impact of this commercialising work Sugar Gum mill logs from firewood cutters with 50 hectares of recent plantings in over the last five years on the general for about $75 per tonne. On display at the strategically sited sawlog woodlots of profile of the species has been dramatic. field day were some of the value-added three to six hectares, laid out for easier Six years ago Sugar Gum was not on any product, aspects of its current activities harvest and mustering. recommended species list, now it is the most planted species for 2004 in the with member landowners and the flow-on The profits from the first two harvests Plantations for Greenhouse scheme. results of new woodlot plantings. have confirmed the economic validity of the new plantings, with better planning Plantations for Greenhouse is a cost Titanga plantations impress and management also being applied to share between farmers and the State The field day was held at Titanga, thought the concurrent annual Landcare plantings. Government, designed to encourage to be the site of the first extensive direct The management plan for the property is production of sawlogs on cleared agricultural land. About 500 hectares a year of plantations have been established under this scheme since 2002 in western Andrew Lang explains value adding at the recent SMARTimbers field day. Victoria. Around 10% of this has been established in the Lismore area and almost all of it is Sugar Gum. Graeme Anderson, Plantations for Greenhouse Manager with DPI at Geelong, says that applications for this year’s scheme saw Sugar Gum leading the two main commercial timber species: Radiata Pine and Tasmanian Bluegum.
Multiple benefits John Reed, SMARTimbers field officer, says that the Titanga Plantations for Sugar Gum
150 tonnes of firewood from the 2004 harvest waiting to be sold.
Greenhouse projects have been strategically located to act as off-shears and lambing havens as well as for producing good returns from thinning and final harvest. “Final harvest will be in 30-35 years. With best practice management and timely thinning, some other species could be harvested in as little as 25 years. Soils and Coppice growth on the 2003 harvest site and retained rainfall obviously play an important role.” habitat hollow bearing trees on the 2004 harvest site. According to John Reed, SMARTimbers is galvanising the farm forestry movement in Australia by lifting members’ net “It is this value adding and high net for other sustainably produced native returns five to tenfold – toward $30,000 return that is largely responsible for species with commercial potential net per hectare harvested. the interest in Sugar Gum. Without and to develop better links with proving the timber's quality and value other groups interested in following “At the same time hollow-bearing trees to the log producer, it would still not the same path. and the best form small diameter trees be on anyone's list,” he says. are being retained to provide habitat, For further information contact shade and a source of seed for improving SMARTimbers is keen to apply their John Reed on 1300 360 368, or visit the regeneration of the site. models to developing the marketing website at www.smartimbers.com.au
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 9 Restoring our high country mosslands
By David Meagher and Anne-Marie Tenni
The bushfires that swept over the The loss of water and habitat also put honed its skills on a long-term project to Victorian high country in January 2003 many very rare plants and animals at risk. re-establish a mossland destroyed during burnt much of the mosslands on the Plants such as the moss Bartramia bogongia the construction of the Kiewa Bogong High Plains, putting at risk the and animals such as the Alpine Water hydroelectric scheme. vast amount of high-quality water Skink, which are confined to the very Careful re-establishment of the produced by the largest area of alpine highest alpine mosslands. topography, revegetation with plants country in Victoria. Ecologists who have been studying the grown from seed and cuttings obtained mosslands for many years believe that close to the site, and stream calming weirs This mossland on the Bogong High Plains was burnt in the 1939 fires and subsequently the mosslands may take a century or more have transformed the pit. The team is fenced off from cattle. When this photograph to recover to their original state – a full confident that it will eventually become was taken in 1982 its condition had improved cover of wetland shrubs, sedges and a fully functioning mossland once more. remarkably with wetland shrubs and mosses, with enclosed pools and streams. sphagnum moss dominating and many On the Wellington Plains in the southern small ponds. This is what mossland Even now the burnt mosslands have part of the Victorian Alps the team has restoration aims to achieve. hardly begun to recover. About one-third been recreating pools and revegetating of their area is still bare peat and rapid streams in a heavily overgrazed valley water run-off and stream-bank erosion are burnt in the Caledonia bushfire in 1998. continuing. With funds from the World Wide Fund for Fortunately, help for the mosslands is at Nature and support from Parks Victoria, hand. Since 1992 a volunteer team of the team propagated and planted a suite of ecologists, students and local enthusiasts species selected for their ability to repair has been developing techniques for the damage and recolonise the expanding restoring degraded alpine mosslands. wetland. An essential factor in the The Bogong High Plains Restoration recovery of this site was the total Alliance, based at La Trobe University, exclusion of livestock, which trample
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 10 Visit the Woodland Web
Are you looking for information about variety of topics including native the native grasslands and woodlands of grasslands, protecting woodland southern Australia and the animals and remnants, restoring kangaroo grass plants that live in them? understorey, mistletoe and rare plants. The Woodland Web is a handy new All articles were originally written website designed by researchers from for community newsletters, conference Charles Sturt University to store and proceedings and other publications. distribute articles describing recent “Many of the articles went into Group research on the ecology, conservation, News publications with a limited circulation management and restoration of native and as such had a limited lifespan,” woodlands and grasslands. Dr Lunt said. Dr Ian Lunt from the university’s “By collating them all on the web, School of Environmental Science the information they contain is now and Information at Thurgoona said available to a much broader audience the site is a good resource for the general and for a much longer time.” community and will be particularly useful for school assignments and The articles are written in simple people involved in Landcare and language with links to detailed Ecologist Henrik Wahren inspects a burnt bush regeneration. scientific results. and badly trampled mossland on the Wellington Plains after the 1998 Caledonia The website, which is linked to the Visit the Woodland Web at fire. Livestock were excluded soon after the fire and the Alliance has a long-term university’s highly successful Virtual http://www.csu.edu.au/herbarium/ project to restore this mossland. Herbarium, contains articles on a woodlandweb/
The Woodland Web provides good, clear information on native woodlands mosslands and trigger degrading processes. The team is now focusing on the burnt mosslands on the Bogong High Plains, with the help of grants from the Natural Heritage Trust and Parks Victoria. The techniques developed over the last 13 years will be used to rescue the mosslands from their perilous condition so that they once again become stable systems, providing critical habitat and high-quality water. Protection from livestock, stream calming and targeted species propagation and planting will be major aspects of this work. For further information contact Anne- Marie Tenni on 9482 2508 or email the Alliance at [email protected]
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 11 Horses Good pasture management is essential for healthy, happy horses.
Given the nature of horse grazing it is horses. These areas will grow little more manure therefore grows rapidly due to not surprising that pasture management than weeds if the pasture is not spelled, increased nutrients and a lack of grazing. problems emerged when man first began fertilised and renovated regularly. These areas quickly become tall and rank to confine horses. These problems have and are further avoided. Paddocks develop increased as horses are kept in an Pasture selection and quantity a pattern of tall undergrazed areas intensified manner both for profit and Horses spend between 16 and 18 hours a (roughs) and short overgrazed areas pleasure. day grazing. Pasture selection is based on (lawns) – frequently described as being horse-sick. Horses are browsers. In nature horses smell, touch and taste. Smell is the most tend to select grasses, clovers and herbs important and is critical in determining Horses break up the pasture sward and and then move to new areas. They can the palatability of pasture. The smell and expose bare ground through overgrazing avoidance of pasture soiled by manure travel over five kilometres a day and and exercise. Galloping horses can damage causes horse-sick pastures. sometimes never return to the same area the soil with their hooves and cause soil to graze. Horses prefer not to graze areas Horses tend to defecate in the same compaction, making conditions more soiled by manure. This self-imposed lax area. In contrast, other animals such favourable for weeds. Any exposure of grazing enables them to avoid manure- as cattle drop their dung haphazardly bare ground provides an opportunity for contaminated pasture that minimises throughout the grazing process. weeds to enter and spread in a pasture. their parasite burdens. Manure and, to a lesser extent, urine Managing horse pastures When small holdings are heavily stocked affect pasture composition by directly or horses are kept on very small blocks, increasing growth (transfer of nutrients) Manure management is important in the the balance of pasture species will change and by the rejection of pasture around prevention of horse-sick pastures. Manure due to the selective grazing habits of manure by horses. The pasture around should be collected every 24 hours.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 12 and Landcare By Mal Brown
Pasture harrowing – trailing an implement to spread manure evenly across a paddock Carrying capacity and to desiccate parasite larvae – should only be done in hot weather after rain. The carrying capacity of a pasture between 20 and 40 dry sheep equivalents depends on the soil type, the composition per hectare over summer. That is, 20 to Rotational grazing (when grazing is of the pasture and its fertiliser and grazing 40 wethers or two to four horses can be followed by a period of rest) can reduce management, as well as water carried on each hectare without hand the rate by which a paddock becomes management if the pasture is irrigated. feeding. With hand feeding, the stocking horse-sick. The length of this rest is Well-managed irrigated pastures can carry rate can be doubled. normally determined by the growth rate of pasture (two weeks grazing and six Animal equivalents for calculating stocking rates weeks rest is a good general rule). Cross or mixed grazing with sheep and cattle Type of livestock Weight (kg) and animal type Dry sheep equivalent offers advantages for pasture and hygiene Sheep 50 kg Wether, ewe 1.0 management. 40 – 45 kg Lambing ewe Pasture management can also include (ewe and lamb) 1.5 slashing to remove poor quality clumps 75 kg Ram 1.5 of pasture, which recover and grow pasture Horses 450 kg Light 10.0 of improved quality that is more palatable 1000 kg Draught 20.0 to horses. The aim for all horse pastures 250 kg Pony 5.0 is to maintain an even ground cover (Source: Stocking Rate Guidelines for Rural Small Holdings. Agriculture WA, 2000) ranging between 5 and 12 centimetres throughout the year.
Access to water Horses require fresh, clean water at all Horses and weeds times. Horses are known to refuse to Horses are fussy eaters and without proper management most paddocks end up having drink substandard water. Dam water is a fairly high weed burden. Although this may look unsightly, a paddock with lots of often not clean enough, especially in weeds is not necessarily dangerous to horses. Most of the time they will ignore the dry periods when algae can form. It is weeds, particularly if there is plenty of grass. So while the paddock next door that has better to fence off a dam and reticulate sheep in it may look better, remember the sheep are eating the weeds as well. the water than allow access. Fencing off a dam also allows vegetation to Some weed species are particularly noxious if a horse does eat them. These include grow which helps to filter the water. Paterson's Curse, St John's Wort and young Bathurst burrs. If noxious plants are present on your property you should either remove them or exclude the horse’s access to the plants. Weeds can be managed by spot spraying with the appropriate herbicide and/or hand hoeing. Sprinkling pasture seed in the resulting vacant areas and lightly raking to provide a seed bed will help to exclude any further weed growth.
Recommended reading: • Small Horse Properties in Australia and New Zealand; Sustainable Management of Horses and Land, Jane Myers et al. (CSIRO Publishing – due for release in 2005) • Small Farm: Pastures for horses, AG1058, Angela Avery, Rutherglen, 2003 available from: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au • Horses and bushfires, Patricia Ellis and Hilary Pope, DPI, Attwood available from: http://www.horsecouncil.org.au/bushfires.pdf
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 13 Kids teach kids at Wimmera
By Melissa Pouliot
The delighted giggles and cheers of more than 350 grade five and six students resounded across Dimboola’s picturesque recreation reserve at the recent inaugural Wimmera Kids Conference – A Kids View of the Environment. Wimmera Catchment Management Authority welcomed the 14 schools in near-perfect conditions to the conference, made possible by a Young Wimmera Landcarers Fund and the State Government’s Second Generation Landcare Grant Program. The giggles continued with leading Australian environmental performers Vox Bandicoot who welcomed 'all ladles and jelly spoons’ to Dimboola for the hands-on learning experience.
Drama at Dimboola School groups from Warracknabeal, Jeparit, Horsham, Dimboola, Edenhope, Glenorchy, Laharum, Goroke, Beulah and Kaniva performed their own take on the Wimmera environment and took part in an exciting workshop program. Looking after the Wimmera River, protecting red-tailed black cockatoos and growing canola were among performances that struck a chord among the group. “I liked the water thing from Glenorchy,” Lauren Smith from Goroke College said of Glenorchy Primary School’s play about looking after the Wimmera River. “The Edenhope act about the black cockatoos was cool,” Torri Moore, also of Goroke, said.
Ian McBurney from Melbourne-based entertainment duo Vox Bandicoot runs through the crowd of excited children.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 14 Catchment conference Management
Ben Nash from Kaniva Primary School animals, a bush profile activity showing was impressed with a performance by the importance of the many layers in the Wallup Mara Traditional Dancing Group bush to local birds, mammals and reptiles, and Kellie Becker from Horsham West a waste-wise session and a look at native Primary School said she learnt ‘heaps’ fish and their habitat. about keeping the environment clean Dave Nicholls from Glenelg-Hopkins and helping the environment. CMA brought a collection of wetland Young people and Landcare plant and animal specimens including platypuses, water birds, water rats and The Kids Conference was supported by birds of prey to discuss different aspects the Young Wimmera Landcarers Fund, of wetlands such as their value to food which Wimmera CMA launched in March chains, river health and threats facing 2003. The idea behind the fund, which them. Wimmera CMA staff also led has attracted support from the Norman sessions on water bugs, tree planting, Wettenhall Foundation, is to provide the Wimmera River, bird watching, increased opportunities for young people dot-painting and Koori culture. in Landcare and environmental activities. Future looks good The conference program was busy and diverse. Afternoon workshops included Wimmera CMA board chairman a bush sense skills workshop that Jo Bourke said it was an inspiration to encouraged pupils to use their senses to be among the dynamic group of young identify clues about different plants and people for the day.
Horsham West Primary School grade five students Mykel Dwan and Stephanie Meyer have a laugh with ‘Compost’ – Vox Bandicoot’s Frank Ryan.
Dave Nicholls from Glenelg-Hopkins CMA running the wetlands workshop.
“These young people are the future caretakers of our precious environment and it’s fantastic to see such enthusiasm on such a grand scale,” she said. Jo Bourke praised organiser Angela Ward and other Wimmera CMA staff for their hard work in staging the event. “Wimmera CMA is thrilled to be able to bring all these children together with the focus on kids teaching kids. We have been planning this for almost 12 months and it’s an event that we’re keen to continue in future years.”
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 15 Save a river for a song By Sandra Volk
While the North Central CMA is working to restore the health of the Loddon River, the community is being asked to raise the roof in a musical celebration of the value of the river and the efforts to improve its health. Do you have a creative flair and a river health story to tell? If so, you are invited to participate in the inaugural Guildford Green Guitar Songwriting competition. Up for grabs is the environmentally prestigious Green Guitar award and $1000. The Green Guitar award will be presented to the artist(s) who creates a song that best shares a message about river health with a focus on the Loddon River – any part of its Does this inspire you? The Loddon River near Kerang. winding path from Glenlyon to Swan Hill. place names, include their future visions, 2005 to PO Box 473, Guildford 3451 Song entries will be judged upon the refer to the past, create stories about our (no entry fee applies). appeal of the sound, the inclusion of local country and our journey to today. content and the feel for the issue. For further information contact Songwriters are encouraged to use local Entries should be submitted by 1 February Penny Larkins on 5473 4158.
Wooragee group goes quoll hunting
Wooragee Landcare Group is working The Wooragee Landcare Group has According to Ray Henderson, President of alongside Parks Victoria and scientists from volunteered to conduct hair tube surveys the Wooragee Landcare Group, the hair DSE to track the rare Spot-tailed Quoll in of the National Park and hopefully detect tubes were left out for a couple of weeks the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park. the animal’s presence. and have now been retrieved and sent off for analysis. The last recorded sighting of Spot-tailed Andrew Murray, convenor of the South Quoll in the park occurred in 2001, East Forests Spot-tailed Quoll Working “We will be using fauna identification although a scat from a quoll was identified Group, was invited to talk to volunteers expert Barbara Triggs to analyse the hair in August 2002. from Wooragee Landcare Group and in samples. We are really looking forward to collaboration with Jerry Alexander, from getting the results. It would be wonderful Since then the 2003 Eldorado fire burnt DSE, members were trained to search for to also find out if quolls have survived the the park, severely damaging the habitat quoll habitats. effects of the fire.” of many species. The Landcare group members have Brian Pritchard, Ranger-in-charge at Andrew Murray demonstrates hair tubes laid out a series of hair tubes along Beechworth, said that the future of the at a Wooragee Landcare Group training day. nine of the major rocky outcrop Spot-tailed Quoll in the park is uncertain. complexes. These tubes attract animals “Although there is evidence of kangaroos, with bait consisting of sardines, flour wallabies and wombats returning, there and tuna oil. isn’t enough information at the moment Double-sided tape on the walls of the to determine if the quolls and other tube catch hair from any curious small smaller marsupials have survived in the animal. park,” he said. Women’s Trust launches Watermark Australia
The Victorian Women’s Trust has recently By Liz Group launched an ambitious and exciting McAloon News national project called Watermark Australia. Watermark Australia aims to bring together thousands of people in a far- reaching and close examination of the academic experts, culminating in a Water water fundamentals in this the driest Charter. This will be a practical document inhabited continent on earth. that captures all the scope for actions Creating momentum for change from the year-long learning and the deliberations of those involved. Mary Crooks, Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust, believes that A number of companies and public sector as a nation we lack effective national organisations have already joined the processes that encourage public debate, project and are promoting it widely ownership of issues and the resolution throughout their customer bases as well of important national problems. as encouraging staff to run their own Watermark Australia Groups. “Party politics dominate, usually in an adversarial climate,“ she said. City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water, Western Water, Museum “Much needed, broad public debates rarely Victoria, DSE, Foundation for Rural and get a start, let alone a proper grounding in Regional Renewal, The Adidem Group the issues and the search for solutions. (The Body Shop and Accessorise), Plan Water is one of these. The involvement Book Travel and Futureye are all involved. and inclusion of people nationally and at the grass-roots level will make all Information sessions are underway to the difference.” introduce the project across Victoria. To find out about the sessions, or how Watermark Australia is based on the Watermark Australia was launched at the to become a group convenor contact highly successful Purple Sage model Alphington wetlands on the Yarra, just seven kilometres from the centre of Melbourne. Watermark on 9642 0422 or go to the initiated by the Victorian Women’s Trust website watermarkaustralia.org.au in the late nineties across Victoria. During that time around 6000 people gathered in The project is scheduled to run for up to small groups in their local communities to 18 months and aims to build a base of The Victorian Women’s Trust is discuss and develop responses to issues of 15,000 group leaders who will convene an independent, not-for-profit concern. Many participants in the Purple regular meetings in their neighbourhoods, organisation. Since its establishment Sage project identified water as the main communities or regions. in 1985, the Trust has worked to environmental concern. improve conditions for women, Water Charter Watermark Australia’s objective is to advocating on key issues and fostering create national momentum that changes The output from all local discussions will networks for the exchange of skills, the way Australians think and act about be processed and integrated with the ideas and information. water. expertise of professional, scientific and
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 17 Good news Catchment Management for Good Neighbour By Rob Walters
The Good Neighbour Program was established in the early 1990s to provide Government with a strategic approach to pest management on public land; in particular, along the private land boundary. DSE manages the Good Neighbour Program to address damage caused to private land by noxious weeds and pest animals that originate on public land. The Good Neighbour Program provides the basis for all pest managers to work together to develop and implement agreed long-term, effective, safe, humane and integrated management processes that protect and improve Victoria’s biodiversity, natural values and productive capacity of both public and private land across the State. Good Neighbour Program blackberry control on river frontage at Porepunkah. Hazards removed at Chewton The 30-hectare area has now been cleared An extension person was employed to The Good Neighbour Program has of all noxious weeds which has reduced identify and map blackberry infestations achieved a great deal since the early the fuel accumulation and removed across the area. Landholders were 1990s. One of the recent success stories is harbour for pest animals. enthusiastic in their approach, developing the Forest Creek Joint Hazard Removal individual work plans to strategically Project in the north-west. The project has enhanced the manage blackberry control on their land. environmental quality, aesthetic values The Forest Creek Project was a joint and recreation use of the area and gained The project area included public land project between Parks Victoria, DSE and a positive response from the local managed by Forests, Crown Land the Golden Point Landcare Group. The community and neighbours. Residents Management, Parks Victoria, Murrindindi aim of the project was to eliminate the fire have commented on how pleasing it is Shire and Goulburn Murray Water. hazard (fuel loads) in the area, control to be able to walk down to the creek's noxious weeds and reduce harbour for edge again. Following consultation all of the parties rabbits and foxes. worked together on a co-ordinated control Follow up work will continue on the site program. Weeds were a particular problem with a for the next three years. wide range of species present including The project has been very successful and blackberry, gorse, spiny rush, cape broom, Blackberry success in the north-east demonstrates the benefits of partnerships pampas grass, willows, hawthorns, tree of across agencies managing public land and A successful Good Neighbour heaven, elm suckers and periwinkle. effective community participation of Program blackberry control project private landholders. The project got underway early in 2004 has been carried out in the north-east. when a 12-tonne excavator with a mower Implemented by the DPI and endorsed For further information about the head attachment was hired. Weed by the local CMA, the project covered Good Neighbour Program contact regrowth was sprayed and slashed and an area of about 14,000 hectares and the Catchment Management Officer indigenous trees and shrubs were planted. included more than 100 landholders. at your local DSE/DPI office.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 18 Will Rabbit Free Research Results benefit our native animals?
The Rabbit Free program has been Transects were taken over five different having an adverse effect on the immensely successful at reducing rabbit sites on both Rabbit Free and non-Rabbit distribution of native animals. The numbers in the north-east, with 27 Free properties with varying native tree regeneration of native vegetation properties now accredited as Rabbit Free. and vegetation cover. could also take some time and therefore the re-colonisation of native fauna into The benefits of reducing rabbit The survey was designed to create base these areas may be delayed. infestations are well known; increased data for ongoing surveys that will help production, reduced erosion and salinity, document the progress of the Rabbit Free It is hoped that subsequent surveys will improved soil and water condition and properties in regards to the re-colonisation show that once the rabbits have been increased recruitment of both native of native animals. removed and the weeds controlled native vegetation and pasture. fauna will move back into the available The survey confirmed that there were space. It has also been assumed that native no rabbits on the Rabbit Free properties, animals must be benefiting from reduced while some remained on the non-Rabbit Craig Hamilton said he learned a great rabbit numbers, but this has not been well Free properties. Native fauna was deal from doing the survey and working documented. distributed over both the Rabbit Free with the local landholders. and non-Rabbit Free properties without A fauna survey was recently conducted on “I realise now that rabbit and weed showing a clear pattern. accredited Rabbit Free properties between control takes an enormous amount of Springhurst and Eldorado in north-east The results could be due to the drought hard work and perseverance,” he said. Victoria to provide base data on native animal activity in these areas.
The survey was a joint project between Alby McIntosh helps Craig Hamilton set a hair tube as part of the Byawatha fauna recovery project. DPI, the Springhurst Byawatha Hills Landcare Group, private landholders and LaTrobe University student Craig Hamilton. Alby and Colleen McIntosh from the Springhurst Byawatha Hills Landcare Group were a driving force behind the Rabbit Free campaign in the region and were also involved in the survey. Craig Hamilton said that Alby McIntosh has been inspirational in the local area Ian and Barbara Rosser outside their mud with his work on rabbits and weeds. brick house. The house survived the fire but the farm suffered extensive damage. “Alby has turned his property around. The transformation is incredible and he has encouraged many other people to get involved.” The survey was carried out on Alby McIntosh’s property and two other properties in the area. Techniques involved using hair tubes for hair analysis, spotlighting and scat identification.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 19 Catchment Recognition Management for North Central’s environmental achievers By Sandra Volk
Environmental achievers come in all The celebration was held at Bendigo of river health thanks to a special shapes and sizes – landholders who use Town Hall last August with 90 partnership between Israelis and their own resources to improve the health community members, groups and Palestinians. of their farms, schools that introduce organisations being recognised for Amos Brandeis stressed that community environmental initiatives into their their voluntary efforts to improve involvement is the key to a healthy curriculum, individuals who spend their the environment. environment. free time planting trees, businesses who Over 300 people attended the event and voluntarily introduce practices to reduce “Ecology knows no political borders,” listened to an inspiring keynote address their impact on the environment. he said. by Amos Brandeis from the Alexander They often expect little in return but River Restoration Project in Israel and Amos Brandeis was impressed at the if you ask them what they would like the winner of last year’s International magnitude of community involvement to receive, they often answer ‘just some Riverprize. in Victoria through movements such recognition’. as Landcare and the willingness of Amos Brandeis put the environmental community, Government and industry In response to the enormous community challenges faced in this region into to work in partnership for the health contribution to natural resource perspective as he described the Alexander of our environment. management in Victoria’s North Central River in Israel as a small stream with big region, the Government and the problems. The river had been used as a The recognition event was an community have been working together sewer by the local community but has overwhelming success and plans are on an event to celebrate our now been transformed into a picture underway to repeat it in the future. environmental achievers. The North Central CMA, Landcare Environmental achievers from the North Central community were honoured in Bendigo recently. Victoria, National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, City of Greater Bendigo, DPI, DSE, Coliban Water, Goulburn-Murray Water, Parks Victoria, EPA Victoria, Loddon Murray Land and Water Management Strategy, North Central Waterwatch and Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program each provided a representative on the event organising committee. The committee agreed that a strong community focus was essential and community members were asked to help identify the many important voluntary – and often unsung – environmental efforts in the region through a nomination process.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 20 Yea group Group News
steps up the action By Helen Bull By Natalie Fulford
The Yellow Creek Dairy Creek Landcare Group, in the Upper Goulburn Catchment near Yea, has re-energised after a few years of little or no activity and this year completed two revegetation projects of which we are immensely proud. The group held two successful community planting days in August this year where around 45 enthusiastic volunteers planted over 350 trees along Triangle Road and a further 550 at the Homewood Station site. Andrew Fulford, the group’s treasurer, was able to secure funding from the Australian Government’s Envirofund for the Homewood Station project. Including the trees planted last year, the total number of trees planted at Homewood Station is now some 1200, highlighting the group’s commitment to improving this community asset. The Homewood Station site forms part of the rail trail planned for the area, and we have future plans for the site with a proposal to obtain funding to erect an information display. Kids outnumbered adults at the Yellow Creek Dairy Creek Landcare Group’s recent tree-planting days. Last year we also planted the Old Ghin Ghin Roadside with approximately 800 A feature of both planting days this year almost outnumbering the adults. The kids, seedlings. This is an area where the was the fantastic family atmosphere with their parents and other community Striped Legless Lizard can be found. the number of children participating members all relaxed and had a wonderful time together while helping the local A fun planting day at Homewood Station. environment. We can now sit back and watch the kids and the trees grow together. On a less positive note, the theft of several tree guards and stakes at one of the sites recently was very disappointing for the group, especially given the time and effort put in by the local community and executive members to secure the funding and to carry out the works.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 21 Sarie studies a much
Meadow Creek beef farmer Bobby Bowers has a strong memory of the creek that meanders for a couple of kilometres through the middle of his family farm. “As a boy I used to catch black fish and red fin. It was really good fishing,” recalls Bobby. “There used to be a series of deep waterholes that you could swim in and it used to flow all year unless there was a major drought.” Over the years Bobby has seen drastic changes to Meadow Creek, south-east of Wangaratta. Today the creek is classed as an intermittent stream that dries up or goes underground in summer. Most of the deep waterholes have silted up. When there are heavy rains in winter the creek breaks its banks and floods low-lying land.
Devastating floods In 1993 floods deposited tonnes of silt and debris along the lower reaches of the creek that feeds into the King River. “It wasn’t too bad until the floods,” says Bobby. “From then on, though, the changes have been pretty rapid. The waterholes are less than 50% the depth they used to be; the creek stops running in summer; and the fish-life is non-existent.” Bobby says he loves the little creek and, like others including Marj and Bob Falconer who have a farm at the lower end of the catchment, is hoping that something can be done to prevent it becoming worse.
LaTrobe University student Sarie Los collecting data for her Index of Stream Condition study of Meadow Creek.
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 22 Catchment Management loved creek By Margrit Beemster
First step to finding a solution is the apart from around 500 metres, runs research work that has been undertaken through freehold land and because by third-year LaTrobe University student the creek is not a major contributor of Sarie Los. water to the King River,” she says. Sarie, from Wodonga has done Index Sarie has presented a report with of Stream Condition sampling this year recommendations on her research to on the creek for the Edi-Black Ranges the Landcare group and is hoping that Landcare Group as part of her studies monitoring of the creek will continue. for a Bachelor of Science degree in According to Sarie, the condition of Environmental Management and Ecology. the creek varies greatly along its length. Sarie has looked at the hydrology, “Overall there was a lack of streamside structural intactness, streamside zone, vegetation which was contributing to water quality and biotic life at seven sites Bobby Bowers shares his memories the streambank erosion, particularly at of the Meadow Creek with Sarie Los. along the 20 kilometres of the creek. the top end of the catchment and was Index of Stream Condition used causing silting further downstream. Dr Phil Suter, head of the Department “There has been minimal natural “Where one landholder has provided of Environment Management and revegetation. Where grazing has been stock troughs the streambank is much Ecology, LaTrobe University, Wodonga light, some River Red Gums have more stable as the stock prefer to drink campus, says Sarie’s use of the Index of regenerated but what is really missing from the troughs than the creek,” she says. Stream Condition would highlight areas is the understorey shrubs.” Streambank protection of concern and show where the best bang Poor SIGNAL scores for the buck could be achieved. One way of protecting streambanks is to Sarie says the creek has very low SIGNAL fence them out to allow for revegetation. “Sarie’s work may well provide the scores, which indicate that there may be However, as Meadow Creek floods impetus for a Meadow Creek Landcare severe pollution in some areas. SIGNAL regularly the fences get washed out and group to become established,” he says. scores are found by collecting aquatic replacing them is time-consuming and “This would highlight the major issues macro-invertebrates and identifying them costly. associated with Meadow Creek and to family level. “It might be better to look at temporary provide a source of funding through “Again, lack of streamside vegetation fencing or tree guards that can be removed Natural Heritage Trust and North East which acts as a buffer zone is contributing when the trees are established,” she says. CMA for remedial works.” to this,” says Sarie. “Alternatively, you could fence around Sarie says while it was usual to have at Sarie is recommending suitable riparian groups or pockets of trees and vegetation.” least 12 months worth of data on water vegetation be planted along the creek quality and biotic life, what she has done Sarie says, for the future, she would like in targeted areas where there is active will at least give the group a starting to work at a professional level to help erosion and that a hydrologist be point. From what she can ascertain, there the environment. consulted to find structural solutions to has been no previous sampling done on stabilise the banks in really bad erosion “I’m particularly interested in whole farm the creek. areas. She also feels that off-stream planning and sustainability. Water is just “This is probably because all of the creek, waterpoints for stock would be helpful. one part of it all.”
Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 23